Evans Tosses Gem as Cleburne Steals Opener
LINCOLN, Neb. (Aug. 26, 2021) – Rookie Jalen Evans tossed seven innings of two-hit baseball, and the Cleburne Railroaders scored twice in the top of the ninth to seize a 5-3 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs on Thursday night at Haymarket Park.
With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the ninth, Hunter Clanin and Skyler Ewing notched back-to-back one-out singles against Lincoln closer James Pugliese (3-3). A one-hopper back up the middle by Colton Pogue was mishandled by Lincoln second baseman David Vidal to load the bases. Alay Lago followed with a line drive sacrifice fly to right, giving Cleburne (49-40) a 4-3 lead. Osvaldo Martinez added an important insurance run with an opposite field RBI double that increased the lead to 5-3.
Nick Gardewine pitched around a pair of one-out baserunners in the bottom of the ninth to nail down his third save.
Evans was masterful in just his fifth professional start, striking out a season-high seven batters while walking six. He allowed a run in the first on a bases-loaded walk to Curt Smith, and one in the third on an RBI single to Yanio Perez, but ended his night by retiring 12 of the last 13 hitters he faced in a no-decision.
The Railroaders answered Lincoln’s first inning run with a tally of their own in the top of the second courtesy of an RBI double from Ewing, and then took a 2-1 lead in the third when D.J. Peterson smacked a sacrifice fly. Perez tied the game for Lincoln in the third, but Clanin threw out Forrestt Allday at the plate to end the inning and preserve the tie.
Peterson gave the Railroaders the lead in the eighth with a two-out RBI double off the wall in left-center, but Lincoln (47-43) tied the game with another two-out RBI single from Perez in the bottom half of the inning against Michael Krauza (3-2).
Lincoln starter Kyle Kinman was forced to leave the game after just three innings due to an apparent injury, as the Saltdogs used five pitchers on the night.
The win extends the Cleburne lead in the south division standings to 2.5 games over both Lincoln and Sioux City heading into game two of the series on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with right-hander Jheyson Manzueta (6-4, 3.69) taking on fellow right Garett Delano (1-0, 1.95) for Lincoln.
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.