Monarchs Drop Rubber Match With Fargo

Kansas City, KS — The Monarchs had a 5-2 lead heading into the eighth frame, but the Redhawks came from behind to give KC a 6-5 loss on Sunday afternoon.

This game opened up with an Austin Callahan double followed by a Luken Baker home run. He tallied his 16th homer and did it in back-to-back games. The inning did not stop there when Grant Richardson collected a hit and then was sent home on an RBI single from Hudson Head. The Monarchs quickly jumped to a 3-0 lead.

After four scoreless innings, the Redhawks cracked the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the sixth. Jesus Lujano led off with a double and then Tucupita Marcano ripped a ball into left center field to drive in the first run. After getting to third, Jose Sermo sent a sac fly to left field and cut it to a one-run game.

The former Royal, Michael Mariot, earned his 5th start on the bump and had his best outing in a Monarchs uniform. He threw six punch outs while only allowing three hits and two runs. “I have the same approach every outing, just trying to get ahead (and) first pitch strikes is my main goal. Getting to attack when getting ahead and I felt like I did a pretty good job of throwing strike one. If it was ball one then I was at least getting back into the count. That was my game plan and it worked out today.”

There was an immediate response from the Monarchs in the bottom half of the sixth as Saul Garza smoked his team leading 17th homer while Richardson followed it up with an extra base hit. He was later sent home to score after Head reached base via fielders choice.

Once again, Fargo found an answer in the eight inning. There were two outs on the board and it seemed like the Monarchs were going to go three up and three down, but the Redhawks rallied back. Juan Fernandez got on base via error and then Marcano registered his second hit of the afternoon. Sermo showed why he is tied for first in the league in homers when he belted a three-run shot to tie up the ball game.

In the ninth inning, Dillion Thomas got all the way to third with two outs and then Aiden Byrne drove in the eventual winning run. The Monarchs could not find a way to score a tally as they loss their fifth-straight home series.

KC will have to move on as they hit the road for a six-game road trip against two of the top teams in the east division. They have an off day tomorrow, but will hit the road and take on the Lake County Dockhounds for a three-game set on Tuesday.