Cleburne Splits Doubleheader with Milkmen
CLEBURNE, Texas (Aug. 19, 2021) – The Cleburne Railroaders got a walk-off home run from Chase Simpson in game one of the doubleheader before dropping the nightcap to the Milwaukee Milkmen on Thursday night at The Depot at Cleburne Station.
Game One: Cleburne 11, Milwaukee 10
Tied at 10 entering the bottom of the seventh, Simpson sliced the first pitch from Milwaukee reliever Ryan Boyer (5-1) just over the fence in left to give the Railroaders a thrilling come-from-behind victory. Cleburne trailed 9-5 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but scored five times to take a 10-9 lead. After Milwaukee tied the game in the top of the sixth, Simpson’s blast in the seventh clinched the series win.
Milwaukee struck first in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single from David Washington, but a grand slam from Tyler Ryan in the bottom of the second put the Railroaders in front 4-1.
Adam Brett Walker trimmed the lead to 4-3 with a two-run shot in the top of the third, but D.J. Peterson answered with a solo homer of his own in the bottom half to push the Railroaders lead to 5-3.
The Milkmen struck for five two-out runs in the top of the fourth to seize the lead back. Logan Trowbridge capped the scoring in the inning with a two-run homer to the gap in left-center, giving Milwaukee an 8-5 edge. Cole Sturgeon’s sacrifice fly in the fifth increased the margin to 9-5.
The Railroaders began the rally in the sixth via a two-run triple from Simpson, pulling Cleburne back to within 9-7. Noah Vaughan’s sacrifice fly made it 9-8, then Hunter Clanin and Colton Pogue launched back-to-back homers to give the Railroaders the lead. A two-out RBI double from Logan Trowbridge tied the game in the sixth, setting the stage for Simpson’s heroics.
Michael Krauza (2-2) earned the win in relief for Cleburne, working two scoreless innings.
Game Two: Milwaukee 11, Cleburne 1
Milwaukee starter Myles Smith (13-3) tossed a complete game three-hitter with nine strikeouts, and a seven-run top of the seventh turned a close game into a rout as the Milkmen salvaged the series finale.
Smith won his eighth consecutive start, going seven innings and allowing one run for the third straight outing.
After Cleburne took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Alay Lago, Milwaukee grabbed a pair of two-out runs in the fourth and fifth to take the lead, highlighted by a two-run home run from Adam Brett Walker.
The Milkmen blew the game open in the seventh with seven runs, turning a 4-1 lead into an 11-1 advantage. Railroaders position player Ramon Hernandez ended up recording all three outs on the mound in the seventh.
The doubleheader split leaves Cleburne a half-game back of the Lincoln Saltdogs for second place in the South Division standings, and two games clear of the Sioux City Explorers, who visit The Depot for a crucial three-game series beginning Friday night at 7:06 PM. Cleburne will start right-hander Jheyson Manzueta (6-3, 3.73), while Sioux City counters with left-hander Brett Adcock (3-8, 5.36).
For information on partnerships, season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Railroaders main office at (817) 945-8705, or visit the Railroaders official website at www.railroaderbaseball.com.