In the first game back from the TCL All-Star Break, the Victoria Generals shutout the East Texas Pump Jacks 3-0 on Thursday night at Riverside Stadium. Generals starting pitcher Kyle Keller kept the Pump Jacks off balance at the plate all night, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 in 6.2 innings to pick up his first win of the season.
Keller and Pump Jacks starter Jordan Price posted five straight scoreless frames until Jace Reese hit his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left field, to give the Generals a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Keller got into a jam in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Daniel Tunchez, Jr. came on in relief and got Conner Husesers to swing at the first pitch and lift a fly ball into shallow center field. Generals newcomer shortstop Alvaro Rondon making his first start of the season went back and made a circus catch to get the Generals out of the inning.
Rondon walked to start the bottom of the seventh and came into score on a Hayden Vesely sacrifice fly to add an insurance run and make it 3-0.
Kris Looper came on in the ninth and set the Pump Jacks down in order to pick up his first save of the season.
Reese led the Generals at the plate going 3-for-4 on the night. Frank Cloutier and Jacob Hubert each had two hits apiece for the Generals as well.
With the win, the Generals snap a six-game losing streak and improve to 18-17 on the season and 1-4 in the second-half. The Pump Jacks fall to 17-18 overall and 2-3 in the second-half.
The two teams will meet again on Friday night for game two of the series at 7:05pm at Riverside Stadium in Victoria. Friday night is First Victoria Goes Pink Night with the Victoria Generals. A portion of the game’s proceeds will go to benefit the Guardians of the Ribbon. Representative from First Victoria, the Guardians of the Ribbon, and Sports Clips will be at the game helping to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
Box Score: http://tcl-generals.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=139727
Video courtesy of Crossroads Today: http://www.crossroadstoday.com/content/sports/local/story/Generals-End-Losing-Streak/aRc_nz-XRk6w7PNg3tLxBQ.cspx
Article courtesy of the Victoria Advocate: http://www.advosports.com/news/2013/jul/12/ko_generals_071213_214505/
Warrior Supply Warriors of the Game - Jace Reese and Kyle Keller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMMxR5Y9Jvc&feature=c4-overview&list=UUWDRnu_qQ4kyQEK9oqND7FA
