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The Brazos Valley Bombers came up short in a back-and-forth game with the East Texas Pump Jacks and lost their third in a row by a score of 10-9. The Bombers rallied in the top of the ninth to take a 9-8 lead, but the Pump Jacks answered right back with two runs of their own to win the game.
In a game that featured five lead changes, the Bombers tallied 11 hits and scored double-digit runs for the first time in nearly a month. With the normally-reliable Drew Flaniken on the mound, this would usually be the equation for success.
But Flaniken struggled, giving up seven runs in just over four innings on eight hits and five walks. While failing to win a Bombers-record sixth win of the season, Flaniken was charged with a no-decision, thanks in part to the hot hitting from the offense.
The Bombers got multiple hits from Clifton Thomas, Alan Harris and Kyle Atkins and took the lead in the top of the ninth inning on Casey Dykes’ two-run double to left field.
With star closer Joaquin Hinojosa in to pitch the ninth, the Bombers seemed destined to pick up their first win in three games. But with two outs and the bases loaded, Brett Nicholas lined a base hit to right field to score Greg Fontenot and Ryan Oesterle to give the Pump Jacks the walk off victory.
The Bombers will try to redeem themselves tomorrow and inch closer to clinching a playoff berth with Travis Smith on the mound against the Pump Jacks. With a magic number of two, the Bombers could potentially clinch their spot as early as Friday.