Dogs Win Hard-Fought Game One

ROSEMONT, Ill. (July 23, 2021) – The Cleburne Railroaders scored two runs in the first inning but couldn’t manage a run after that, as the Chicago Dogs battled back for a 3-2 win on Friday night at Impact Field.

After a one-out walk in the first inning to Alay Lago, first baseman Ramon Hernandez hammered a two-run home run to right-center for an early 2-0 lead.

The Dogs (37-24) answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, as K.C. Hobson hit into a bases-loaded double play to cut the lead in half. Harrison Smith tied the game with a solo home run in the third off Railroaders starter Kody Bullard, who ended with a no-decision in his second professional start. The left-hander surrendered two runs over 4.2 innings, striking out five and walking two.

A.J. Jones (4-1) held down the Railroaders offense over the next five frames, picking up the win with six strong innings. He struck out just one, but faced just one over the minimum from the second inning on. Jace Dalton tossed scoreless baseball in the seventh and eighth, and Jeff Kinley picked up his ninth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Chicago grabbed the go-ahead run in the sixth. Hobson led off the inning with a double, then came around to score when Ryan Lidge lined an RBI single off Cleburne reliever Taylor Wright (1-3).

The loss snapped the Railroaders season-high-tying five game winning streak.

The Railroaders and Dogs continue the series on Saturday night at 7:05 PM. Jheyson Manzueta (4-1, 3.25) starts for Cleburne, while the Dogs counter with right-hander Jordan Kipper (5-3, 6.37).

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.