The Brazos Valley Bombers are in the midst of their longest road trip of the season, and on Thursday night in McKinney, it showed. The weary Bombers, playing their sixth game in five days and fourth in a row on the road, collected one hit en route to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Marshals.

The loss, coupled with a win by the Coppell Copperheads over the Duncanville Deputies on Thursday, slides the Bomber back to second place in the Speaker Division, a scant half-game behind Coppell. The Bombers have three games remaining in the regular season to make up that ground on the Copperheads and capture the division title.

Despite the loss, the Bombers are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot in their inaugural season. Duncanville’s loss eliminates the Deputies from the playoff hunt, leaving Coppell, Brazos Valley, and the Colleyville LoneStars vying for the two Speaker Division playoff spots. Just one win by the Bombers in their remaining three games, or a loss by Colleyville in their last four, will clinch a postseason berth for Brazos Valley.

On Thursday night, though, McKinney got the best of the Bombers. Six Marshals pitchers combined to hold the B’s to one hit, though none of the McKinney hurlers went more than two innings. The lone hit by the Bombers was a single by catcher Kip Masuda.

Cody Curry (3-4) took the loss for Brazos Valley, going six innings and allowing four runs. McKinney tabbed him for a pair in the bottom of the first, then he ran into trouble again in the fifth, giving up two more. Curry gave up eight hits and walked two while striking out four.

Adam Albright came on in the seventh and surrendered one run, followed by a scoreless eighth by Tyler Davis.

The B’s five-game, four-day road trip will come to a welcome end on Friday night. The Bombers visit Duncanville with eyes on clinching a playoff spot with either a win or a Colleyville loss.

Saturday, the Bombers return home to one of the most eagerly anticipated promotions of the season – Acie Law Bobblehead Giveaway. The Bombers will be taking on Colleyville in the first game of a weekend series to close out the regular season, but most fans will be interested in what’s being given away at the door. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive a miniature bobblehead likeness of the former Texas A&M All-American basketball player, now a first round draft choice of the Atlanta Hawks, courtesy of Brazos Valley Bank. This exciting giveaway has had fans buzzing ever since it was announced. It is the first Brazos Valley merchandise item with Law’s likeness and it is sure to be a hot commodity, so fans are encouraged to get tickets early so they don’t miss out.

Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day and marks the final game of the regular season. All fans entering the park will receive a coupon good for a free ice cream at McDonald’s, and hot dogs and hamburgers will be just $1 all game long.

The TCL playoffs will begin next week, with the two division winners hosting the Division Series opener on Monday, August 6. The best-of-three series will shift so the second-place teams can host Game Two on Tuesday. If a deciding Game Three is necessary, it will be played on Wednesday back at the home of the division champs.

The Championship Series, also a best-of-three affair, will open next Friday, August 10.