ALEXANDER’S WALK OFF BOMB LIFTS ‘ROADERS OVER EXPLORERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 29, 2023
CLEBURNE – Hill Alexander hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth to give the Railroaders a 6-4 victory over of the visiting Sioux City Explorers on Monday, May 29.
Zach Nehrir got the scoring started for Cleburne early when he blasted a ball over the left field wall in the bottom of the first to make it 1-0.
The Railroaders extended that lead in the bottom half of the next inning. Brian Klein led off with a walk. Guillermo Quintana also walked to put runners at first and second for Elmer Reyes who singled home Klein. That brought Delino DeShields to plate, and he blistered a single into center field to bring Quintana to the plate, making it 3-0.
Prior to the fifth, Railroaders’ starter Michael Mariot was cruising. The Explorers finally got to him in the fifth, getting back all three of the runs they had surrendered. Chase Harris reached on an error by first baseman Mark Karaviotis which was then followed by a Jake Ortega single. Jake Sanford walked to load the bases, which then enabled Kyle Kasser to hit a two-RBI double. Delvin Zinn singled home Sanford to tie the game at three.
Extra baseball would be needed to finish out the Memorial Day affair, as the bullpens of each team were able to shut the opposing team’s offense down.
In the top of the tenth, Railroaders’ manager Logan Watkins called on shutdown reliever Joe Shaw to try and keep the scored tied heading into the bottom of the tenth. Shaw was one out away from doing so, but an Eury Perez single scored Zinn to give the Explorers the one run advantage.
With DeShields already placed at second base, all the Railroaders had to do was get him home to extend the game. They did that with a Jose Sermo RBI-groundout that also advanced Nehrir to third. Alexander then stepped up the plate and hit a ball off the batter’s eye in center field to win the game for Cleburne 6-4.
Both starting pitchers put up strong outings. For the ‘Roaders, Mariot went six innings, allowing just three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with three strikeouts and just one walk. Over on the Explorers’ side, Francys Peguero went six and a third, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
Shaw picked up the win, his first of the year. Sean Rackoski got the loss.
The Railroaders continue their four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers on May 30. Pregame coverage will begin a 6:45 p.m. on aabaseball.tv and on the Railroader Radio Network.