Kansas City Plates Seven Unanswered, Powers Past Goldeyes

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Kansas City, KS — After giving up three early runs, the Monarchs shut down the Goldeyes the rest of the way and cruised to a 7-3 victory.

Winnipeg got started right from the get-go. In the first inning, Roby Enriquez and Adam Hall each tallied a hit while Ray-Patrick Didder drove in Enriquez on an RBI double. This was followed by RBI knocks from Noah Marcelo and Keshawn Lynch to jump into an early 3-0 advantage, but that would be last time they would cross home plate.

In the bottom of the first, KC grabbed a quick tally to cut into the deficit. Tyler Gentry walked and Austin Callahan tagged a ball into center to put runners at the corners. Gentry scored on an RBI double play groundout from Luken Baker.

Michael Mariot made his ninth start on the bump and after the first inning, he really settled in. He went six up six down in the next two frames and didn’t allow a run the rest of the way. Mariot finished the day with four punch outs while surrendering three runs and seven hits. Jack Walker and Emmanuel Chapman were impressive in the reliever role as they each tallied three K’s.

In the bottom of the third, with two swings of the bat, the game was tied. Austin Callahan cranked a solo homer to right field and Baker amassed his 27th blast this season with a moon shot into left.

There were two more scoreless innings, but then Kansas City made their move in the bottom of the sixth. Grant Richardson was hit by a pitch and then swiped a bag. With two down, Sahid Valenzuela roped a ball into right field to bring home Richardson for the first KC lead of the day. Valenzuela has now recorded a seven-game hitting streak and says, “I’m just trying to get good at bats for the team, good team quality at bats, (and) pass the baton to the next guy. Trying to get good pitches to do something with and to do damage, but just work the counts.”

After Valenzuela brought home Richardson, the frame was far from over as Hudson Head sliced a ball the opposite way which left the yard for his 14th homer this season. The Monarchs have slapped 44 hits the past three games and Head said, “We are extremely dangerous, we have seen days where (we have) 60 runs in three games earlier in the year. We have the talent, it’s just a matter of execution.” Jose Torres got home on a wild pitch for the seventh and final run of the day.

KC shut out this Goldeye group and produced their best defensive output this season. Both teams will play one final regular season game of the year with a 1:05 first pitch on Labor day.