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Six Run First Dooms Sioux City

Sioux City, IA - The Cleburne Railroaders used a six run first inning to cruise to a 10-1 victory over the Explorers taking a three game lead in the South Division with a game left to play in the series. 

It was the third time this season the X’s allowed six or more runs in a first inning to their opponents this season and Sioux City is now 1-2 in those games. Cleburne began the rally with an out in the opening inning, back to back singles were cashed in by a Zach Nehrir double to make it 1-0 Cleburne. A sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Another single put runners on the corners for Grant Buck who hit a ball to centerfield, scoring another run, and an error made by Kyle Wren allowed the fourth run of the inning to score. After a walk Logan Trowbridge finished off the rally with a double to right field scoring a pair and making it 6-0 Cleburne. 

Eric Karch (4-5) would take the loss as he gave up those runs in the first but after the crooked number in that opening frame, Karch pitched well. He allowed just two runs the rest of the night he was on the mound and six hits from that point on while striking out six batters. In the end though he went five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs on 12 hits, with three walks and six strikeouts. It was the third straight start for Karch in which he allowed multiple runs in the first inning. 

Sioux City has now allowed 63 runs to their opponents in the first inning this season, making it far and away the highest scoring inning. The X’s hold a team ERA of 7.27 in the first inning. 

On the other side of the ball it was unfortunately the same story for Sioux City as the offense failed to get anything going against Cleburne. The Explorers failed to record a hit or run till two outs in the sixth. They were shut out a combined 25 and two thirds innings straight and have managed to score seven runs so far in the five games played on this home stand. 

Kyle Wren did record an RBI triple in the sixth, to drive home the X’s lone run of the game. His triple was the 10th of the season and extended his league lead in the category. Wren also tied the Explorers single season franchise record for triples with Jose Peguero (1996) and Michael Lang (2015) 

Part of the equation for Sioux City’s quiet night offensively was the stellar pitching from Cleburne’s, Stephen Johnson (7-1). Johnson earned the win going seven innings, allowing just a single run on two hits while striking out three and walking only one. In his last two starts now for Cleburne he has gone 2-0 in 15 innings, allowing just two runs on only four hits and two walks while punching out 12. 

Cleburne would add runs periodically throughout the game, with Zach Nehrir hitting his eleventh homer of the season in the fourth. A Daniel Robertson sixth inning double was cashed in by Angel Reyes. Nick Rotola reached base four times and had an RBI double in the seventh. And a double from John Nester to lead off the ninth came to fruition as KC Hutch pinch ran for him and eventually scored on a ground out to give the Railroaders their 10-1 final score. 

Every Railroader in the starting lineup had a hit, with five of them having two hit games and everyone contributing either an RBI or scoring a run. 

Sioux City will look to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Railroaders on Sunday afternoon at 4:02 pm in what promises to be a good pitching matchup. Taylor Jordan gets the ball for the X’s and he will face off against Jesus Sanchez for the Railroaders.