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31/07/2012 20:14
Schlottmann recovers after rocky opening inning, but defensive woes lead to five unearned runs in loss
The last time the Pump Jacks met the Bombers on the road, they were out-scored 11-1 in one of the more lop-sided box scores for East Texas this season.
This time, it was their own doing that played the biggest part in a 7-1 loss to the Bombers at AMB Ballpark in Bryan.
Much like the last time the two teams met at Brazos Valley, the Bombers jumped all over the Pump Jacks with a four-run first. Two errors in the frame ended up costing the Jacks dearly when a bases-clearing double by Brad Porras made the score 4-0.
Brazos Valley got one more run when consecutive two-out extra-base hits, the latter by Porras, made the score 5-0 Bombers. But the Pump Jacks got that run back in the next half-inning. Kash Kalkowski reached on a two-base error by the third baseman Brennyn Smith (his second error of the night), and two batters later, Damion Lovato singled him in from third to cut the deficit to 5-1.
The Bombers would tack on two more runs in the fifth inning, whe a double by Smith and a two-base error made the score 6-1, followed by yet another hit by Porras to make the score 7-1 Bombers.
Overall, it was an extremely sloppy defensive game for both teams, with the Bombers committing six errors and the Pump Jacks making four miscues in the field. Unfortunately, the Jacks could not make the Brazos Valley errors costly. They left 13 runners on base in the ballgame, including the top of the sixth, when they stranded the bases loaded. The lone hit the Pump Jacks got with runners in scoring position was Lovato’s that brought home the only run of the game for East Texas.
The bright spot on an otherwise down night for the Pump Jacks was starter Ty Schlottmann. After throwing 30 pitches in the long first inning, Schlottmann (2-4) gutted through six innings, throwing 92 pitches total and only giving up two earned runs in a tough-luck loss. Brannon Easterling (3-4) threw 100 pitches over six innings to get the win for the Bombers.
East Texas will return home to face The Woodlands on Wednesday. It will also be another Western Wednesday at Driller Park, featuring the popular barbecue nachos and Ziegenbock beer at the concession stand. The next night will be the final Thirsty Thursday of the season, with the Jacks’ game against the Texas Marshals representing the last time that fans can enjoy $1 draft beers, 50-cent soft drinks and $3 frozen margaritas.
First pitch for each game is set for 7:05 p.m.
Playoff tickets are also on sale now! By virtue of winning the first-half title, the Jacks’ will host a first-round playoff game on Sunday, August 12. This year, the first round of the TCL playoffs is just one game, so the Jacks will be playing for a berth in the TCL Championship Series. Tickets are on sale now on the web, by phone, or at the Pump Jacks office in downtown Kilgore.
Keep up with the Pump Jacks’ fifth anniversary season on www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation and interact with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Jacks on Facebook and Twitter.
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