(Cleburne, TX) The first two games of the series between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and Cleburne Railroaders were evenly split with both clubs winning by six-runs. The RailCats coming off the game two win, 7-1, went back to La Moderna Field for the third game and back 5.5 games for the final playoff spot. Peyton Long pitched for the RailCats while Cleburne used tall RHP, Aaron Mishoulam starting on the mound for Cleburne.
Mishoulam would leave the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, getting Justin O’Conner to strike out to leave them full. In the top of the third, Korry Howell led-off with a double over the head of the centerfielder Merik Carter. Kevin Watson would drop one in left field and it would bounce over the head of the left fielder to score Howell for an RBI triple. A wild pitch and Watson ran in to score and give the RailCats a 2-0 lead.
The Railroaders would use solo home runs for their offense against Peyton Long. Angel Mendoza hit his second home run of the series in the bottom of the third and Mason Minzey would put one over the left field wall to tie the game at two runs. In the seventh inning, Carter Aldrete hit his first home run since July fifth, and Cleburne led 3-2.
Braydon Nelson pitched a scoreless seventh and went back out for the eighth inning. He gave up singles to Marc Flores and Nick Podkul, and Joe Suozzi attempted to lay down a bunt but Nelson walked him to load the bases. Cleburne would bring in a new pitcher, their closer, Josh Green to come in. Green’s first pitch was to Ozzie Martinez who sent it back up the middle for a two-RBI single and give the RailCats a 4-3 lead late.
Jacob Coats would take the ball earlier than expected after Will Kincanon left the game with an injury. Coats would get through the eighth and struck out Merik Carter and Carter Aldrete to begin the bottom of the ninth. With two down it was up to Cole Foster, he hit the first pitch hard and the wind carried it but Korry Howell ran it down and the RailCats escaped with a 4-3 win to take the series lead.
The RailCats sit at 31-46 and now 4.5 games back of Cleburne with three more games to go in the series. The Friday pitching matchup is Opening Day starter Deyni Olivero as he will face LHP Ben Hampton. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:06 with a livestream available on AABaseball.TV.