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17/07/2010 00:29
First the rain, then base hits.
It was raining on the East Texas Pump Jacks a few different ways Friday night in Louisiana. A short downpour caused pitching problems and then a 30-minute, first inning delay, after which the Alexandria Aces struck key hits in the right places to beat the Pump Jacks 6-2.
Kyle Martin started the bottom of the first for the Jacks as a light rain began to fall. He had trouble with his control in the rain, hitting the first two batters one two-strike pitches. Martin told the umpires he was slipping on the wet mound, but they continued play. Only after three straight balls to the next hitter, as well as a heavy downpour, did the men in charge send the players off the field.
The rain stopped a few minutes later, and when Martin returned to the mound he walked the hitter to load the bases. A groundout and triple followed, and Alexandria had a 3-0 lead. They also added a run on two hits in the second inning.
Martin didn’t pitch poorly, allowing the four runs but striking out four in five innings.
After stranding a couple of runners, the Pump Jacks got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Matt Carvutto led off with a double to left field. Lee Orr followed with a liner to the right-center field gap. Carvutto scored easily, and Orr sped around second base and into third with a triple. Orr scored on a passed ball a few pitches later.
Carvutto doubled again in the seventh inning, this time to right-center field, but he was stranded as two long flies found Alexandria gloves.
Alexandria pushed two more runs across the plate in the eighth inning before retiring the Jacks in the ninth. The Aces are now in first place in the second half at 4-2, one-half game ahead of East Texas.
The Pump Jacks play another game at Alexandria Saturday night. It is the first Pump Jack trip outside of Texas. The Aces are the first Texas Collegiate League team not based in Texas.
The Pump Jacks kick off next week on Sunday against the Texas Tomcats with Longview News-Journal Night. The first 100 fans through the gates will receive a free color-changing cup, courtesy of the Longview News-Journal. Fans can also enjoy a special family discount for the game: four grandstand tickets for just $10 (saving as much as $10), or four tickets and four meals for only $25. Fans can visit theGOspot.com for their money-saving coupon.
The games originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in McKinney have been relocated to historic Driller Park for a Tuesday doubleheader. Wednesday’s scheduled contest in McKinney against the North Texas Copperheads has been cancelled because of the same facility scheduling conflicts.
Tuesday is a very special night at historic Driller Park: a night free to the public. The Pump Jacks do request that fans make a donation for the tickets, as all of the ticket proceeds will be donate to the Boys & Girls Club. The donation can be as small as a penny for a grandstand ticket, and just $2 will be rewarded with a seat in the boxes, up close to the action! The evening is supported by the Kilgore News Herald.
After a day off on Thursday, the Jacks return home for a single game – and a singularly fantastic promotion: Fireworks Friday, presented by KLTV News. Once again, the Pump Jacks will light up the night sky with an incredible fireworks display, set to a new soundtrack. This is the fourth of five fireworks shows this summer, so if you haven’t seen one yet, time is running out!
Pump Jacks Nation is now on Facebook! Visit the East Texas Pump Jacks official team page on Facebook to follow all the news and gossip about the Pump Jacks, post your thoughts on the Jacks 2010 season, upload photos, and interact with other fans. Plus, the Jacks will post specials and discounts just for the Facebook community on the page! Click the link on the left side of the Pump Jacks web site or at the top of every news article on the site, and join Pump Jacks Nation on Facebook!
To follow all Pump Jacks news, including player awards, game stories and promotions, log on to the team’s official Website at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. |
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