Kilgore, TX – Kaleb Keith was excellent on the mound, throwing all seven innings and only allowing two runs to score as the G-Men took game one of the doubleheader, five to two. He also struck out nine Pump Jack batters.
The Generals were able to take an early lead by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. The Pump Jacks starter, Tanner Cable, started very shaky, walking four Generals batters in the first inning. Miscues would be the story of the opening frame as Justin Pacchioli scored the first run on a passed ball. Alvaro Rondon came across for the second run of the inning following a CJ Pickering hit by pitch.
The top of the second would add another run for the Generals, as Cable would hit another batter. Matthew Burks would score the third run of the ball game on a Blake Cooper groundout.
Cable’s night would end early, as John Jaeger would come on in relief to start the third inning. The Pump Jack’s starter only allowed one hit, but the five walks and two hit batters would prevent him from going any longer on the mound.
East Texas brought across their first run of game one in the bottom of the third. Following a leadoff triple off the bat of Anthony Gonsolin, Nick Rabat would plate him on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Two Generals runs would be added in the fourth inning, coming off the reliever Jaeger. Pacchioli would start things off with a one-out double and score the fourth run for Victoria on a Brian Portelli single. Rondon would plate the other run, following his single, on an error by the Pump Jacks shortstop.
East Texas scored the final fun in the fourth when Dustin Williams crossed the plate on a James Lear groundout. Robbie Petty tossed the final inning for East Texas, only allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
Ryan Benetiz threw six strong innings, and Keith Funk hit his first homer of the season as the Generals also took game two of the doubleheader against the East Texas Pump Jacks in Kilgore, six to one.
It took a little longer in game two, but the Generals were able to strike first again with a big five run inning off the East Texas starter, Allen Ellis. It was scoreless through the first two innings, and then Keith Funk put Victoria on top with a two-run homer, following a leadoff single from Pedro Barrios. The scoring barrage would continue as JB Moss, the Texas A&M product, knocked a single to left with the bases loaded and an error would clear the bases. Only two of the five runs would go down as earned.
Barrios added another run for the Generals in the top of the sixth following a sac fly credited to Rondon, bringing the score to 6-0.
The Pump Jacks were held without a run by Generals starter Ryan Benitez for five innings, then a leadoff double from Connor Huesers in the sixth set the stage for their first run on a Bobby Webb groundout.
Benitez threw six superb innings for the Generals, allowing only one run, seven hits, one walk, and striking out five. Chris Hassold tossed the final frame for the Generals and only allowed a single and a walk.
The Generals will be back home for a two game set against the Brazos Valley Bombers this Tuesday and Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:35 both nights with both games being FREE!!! Come cheer on the Generals in two big games against the league-leading Bombers.
