Railroaders Fall Short in Series Opener

May 26, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Cleburne Railroaders News Release

CLEBURNE, Texas - Patrick Young allowed just two runs over six innings, but the Railroaders fell to the Sioux City Explorers, 3-2, in the Mercy Field home opener on Friday night.

Young gave up two runs in the first inning, but allowed just one hit over his next five. Sioux City (7-1) took the lead on a Nate Samson RBI double followed up by a Jay Austin sacrifice fly.

Cleburne (4-3) went down in order in each of the first three innings, but after stranding a pair of baserunners in the fourth, Axel Johnson drove in Cam Monger with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and K.C. Huth scored Michael Pair with an infield single.

Michael Gunn came on to pitch the seventh and walked one with a pair of strikeouts, and after Cleburne stranded two runners in the seventh and one in the eighth, a Jay Baum RBI single - his league-leading 12th of the season - gave the Explorers a lead in the bottom of the eighth.

Cleburne loaded the bases after Geoff Broussard issued a pair of one-out walks and then hit K.C. Huth with two outs, but Ryan Flores inherited the runners and got Alex Polston to fly out to right.

Cleburne stranded nine runners and six across the final three innings, while the run Shawn Blackwell surrendered was only the fifth run allowed by the bullpen over 27.0 innings of work.

Huth went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Alex Polston added two hits. Michael Pair doubled for the second consecutive game, and Pair, along with Cam Monger, walked twice.

The Railroaders now have a chance to even the series Saturday night. RHP Roman Gomez will make his first start for Cleburne, and RHP Justin Vernia will throw for the Explorers. First pitch time is set for 7:05, and pregame coverage on TuneIn Radio will begin at 6:45.

The Railroaders return home Saturday, June 1 for a three-game series with the St. Paul Saints. Tickets are always available at www.railroaderbaseball.com or by calling (817) 945-8705.

American Association Stories from May 26, 2018

• Dogs Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short, Kansas City Takes Series - Chicago Dogs
• Thomas Goes Deep But AirHogs Fall Again in Wichita - Texas AirHogs
• Canaries Top Goldeyes in Extra-Inning Thriller - Sioux Falls Canaries
• Sioux City Wins Fifth Straight - Sioux City Explorers
• Game Recaps - AA
• Bats Explode for 18 Hits as Wichita Rolls to Win - Wichita Wingnuts
• RailCats Rout Saints, 16-7, in Tagert's 700th Win with Gary - Gary SouthShore Railcats
• Saints Six-Game Win Streak Comes to Screeching Halt with 16-7 Loss to RailCats - St. Paul Saints
• Ahart's Two-Homer Game Leads RedHawks Past Saltdogs - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
• Railroaders Strand Nine in 7-1 Loss - Cleburne Railroaders
• Goldeyes Fall to Canaries in 10 - Winnipeg Goldeyes
• RedHawks Pound 17 Hits to Clinch Series over Saltdogs - Lincoln Saltdogs
• Andy DeJesus Re-Signed by RailCats - Gary SouthShore Railcats
• Wingnuts Bring Back Wilson, Add True Rookie Osburn - Wichita Wingnuts
• Railroaders Fall Short in Series Opener - Cleburne Railroaders
• De La Cruz's Four Hit Night Leads RedHawks to Home Opener Win - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
• Ninth Inning Rally Gives Kansas City Third Straight "W" - Kansas City Monarchs
• De La Cruz's Four Hits End Saltdogs Win Streak - Lincoln Saltdogs
• Birds Drop Game to Goldeyes in First Road Test - Sioux Falls Canaries
• AirHogs Fall in Friday Wichita Opener 4-1 - Texas AirHogs
• Game Recaps - AA
• Devastating Ninth Inning Rally Downs Dogs in Sold out Home Opener - Chicago Dogs
• X's Win Home Opener over Railroaders - Sioux City Explorers

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