Box >

The Brazos Valley Bombers provided some early fireworks tonight, as they rallied from behind to defeat the McKinney Marshals by a score of 6-4. The Bombers, who improved to 17-17 on the season, will host the East Texas Pump Jacks tomorrow on Goldfinger Night.

The Bombers took a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning, as Travis Smith pitched over four innings of no-hit ball. He started to struggle, however, after he was hit in the back by an errant throw by Bombers catcher Casey Dykes as Cody Gambill stole second base.

Smith was unable to gain his composure afterwards and the Marshals quickly tacked on four runs before the Bombers could get a pitcher warmed up. Garrett Fanchier finally relieved Smith and got the final two outs without suffering any more damage.

The following inning, Drew Mason made a potentially game-saving play at first base to keep the score knotted at four. With runners on the second and third and only one out, Jake Luce hit a screaming grounder to the right of Mason, who made a diving stop. Mason calmly checked the runner at third before stepping on the bag to record the second out and prevent the runners from advancing. Fanchier then struck out Tyler Ogle to end the inning keep the Bombers out of trouble.

The Bombers took the lead for good in the bottom half of the sixth, as Clifton Thomas and Casey Dykes strung together RBI singles to put the Bombers up 6-4.

Fanchier held the lead the next two innings before the Bombers brought in Geoff Lomax, who recorded his first save of the season.

The Bombers will have Mitchell Pitts on the mound tomorrow as they attempt to inch closer to the Pump Jacks in the standings. A series sweep would move the Bombers a half game ahead of the Pump Jacks and put them in position to earn home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs.