‘ROADERS BOUNCE BACK IN BIG WAY VERSUS KANE COUNTY
CLEBURNE, TEXAS (August 12, 2022) – All it took was a little Depot magic for Cleburne to get back to their winning ways. The Railroaders’ offense absolutely exploded versus Kane County on Friday evening, as they crushed the ball all over the yard in their 11-3 victory.
Cleburne put up big numbers in the early going. They struck for five in the bottom of the second off former big leaguer Vance Worley. The bases were loaded with nobody out with Nick Shumpert at this dish. Shumpert, who had already hit three grand slams this season, hit his fourth on the first pitch he saw from Worley to give the Railroaders a 4-0 lead. They added on another when Edwin Arroyo singled home Chuck Taylor to make it 5-0.
Four more came across in the bottom of the third for the Railroaders. Hunter Wolfe laced a double that split the outfielders and one-hopped the fence that brought Jacob Bockelie around to score. Wolfe then scored on a Shumpert single to make it 7-0. Cleburne put the nail in the coffin later on in the frame when Chase Simpson hit a double off reliever Koby Bishop that scored Arroyo and Zach Nehrir. After just three innings, the Railroaders led the Cougars 9-0.
Kane County did put up some scoring in the affair. They scored two in the top of the fourth and another in the sixth.
The final runs of the contest came in the bottom of the sixth. Wolfe stepped up the plate after Bockelie had just been hit in the elbow by a Bishop fastball. Wolfe then preceded to launch a ball just barely to the right of the foul pole in left field to hit his second home run in as many nights. The homer made it 11-3, a score that held until the end of the game.
Kevin Hilton, the Railroaders' starter in the contest, was masterful. He was awarded the win for his efforts, going six strong innings, allowing just three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Cleburne’s bullpen held up their end of the bargain as well. The trio of Zac Reininger, Austin Fairchild, and Trevor Simms pitched three shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.
Getting the loss was Worley. He struggled throughout his outing, going just two and two-thirds innings where he allowed nine runs on ten hits.
The win doesn’t move Cleburne up or down in the East Division standings as Gary SouthShore took care of business against the Milwaukee Milkmen in a dominating 24-7 win.
Game five of the ‘Roaders' six-game series against the Cougars continues tomorrow at 7:06 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. on aabaseball.tv and on the Railroader Radio Network.