Explorers Grind Out Series Opening Win
CLEBURNE, Tex. (July 16, 2021) – The Cleburne Railroaders put the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Sioux City Explorers escaped with a 7-5 win on Friday night at The Depot at Cleburne Station.
The game lasted 4 hours and 11 minutes, a new Railroaders season-high for a nine-inning contest this year. Cleburne hitters saw 14 full counts on the evening, and the game featured a staggering 368 combined pitches.
Sioux City (31-23) sprinted to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Chase Harris started the game with a double and scored on a pair of ground ball outs. Back-to-back solo home runs from Sebastian Zawada and Lane Milligan pushed the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second.
Cleburne (29-23) got the two runs back in the bottom of the second. Hunter Clanin lined an RBI double, then stole third before scoring on a throwing error to trim the Sioux City lead to 3-2.
The Explorers stretched the margin back to three with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, as DJ Poteet delivered an RBI single and Harris followed with a sacrifice fly.
Noah Vaughan worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth and Chase Simpson lined an RBI double in the fifth to again get Cleburne back within a run at 5-4.
Two big insurance runs crossed for Sioux City in the top of the sixth, both coming courtesy of two-out RBI singles from Chris Clare and LT Tolbert. The Railroaders scratched out a run in the seventh when Osvaldo Martinez singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error.
Trailing 7-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Railroaders loaded the bases on a Martinez single, a Ramon Hernandez single, and a walk from Simpson. But Explorers reliever Matt Quintana struck out Clanin swinging to end the game and lock down his first save of the season.
Max Kuhns (4-1) picked up the victory in relief for the Explorers, tossing a season-high 2.1 innings with four strikeouts, allowing one run.
Garrett Alexander (6-5) took the loss for the Railroaders, allowing seven runs on six hits over 5.2 innings while fanning six. Taylor Wright and Joseph Camacho pitched well in relief for Cleburne, holding the Explorers off the board over the final 3.1 innings.
The Railroaders and Explorers continue the series on Saturday night at 7:06 PM. The Railroaders have not yet announced their starter, while Sioux City will go with right-hander Zach Hedges (5-3, 4.73).
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.