Monarchs Suffer Rough Loss at Home, Fargo Takes Opening Game

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Kansas City, KS — There were six combined homers, but unfortunately the Redhawks took the lead in the first and the Monarchs could not get back into the game as they fell 17-7.

Fargo took the lead right from the jump when Matt Kroon smoked a solo shot on the second batter of the game. After two singles, Dillon Thomas sliced a three-run shot and the Monarchs were quickly down 4-0.

In the bottom half of the first, Luken Baker walked and then Saul Garza belted his team-leading 16th homer of the season to cut the lead in half.

 

This was a two-run game going into the third, but the Redhawks added five tallies. There were three walks and a base hit while Aiden Byrne sent a sac fly to bring in Tripp Clark. After that, there were three-straight RBI singles capped off by a Tucupita Marcano base hit. It was a 9-2 deficit and the Monarchs found themselves in a seven-run hole.

In the bottom half of the third, Brady Lindsly walked and then Edwin Diaz laced a two-run homer into center as it was his first home run this season. He talks about this team and says, “This group is good and it feels like home, they’re a good team. Last two games were not good, but we have a good team.”

 

The Redhawks tallied a run in the fourth and then three more in the fifth. Fargo could not be stopped and was consistently bringing in runs as they finished the night with 20 total hits.

The bullpen really struggled tonight as the threw eight walks compared to only five punch outs. It was a really uncharacteristic night from this group and they will surely respond in the rest of the series.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Diaz crushed his second bomb and it was followed by Hudson Head who drove one out of the park. Diaz was a bright spot tonight for the Monarchs and they showed why they are second in the league in homers.

 

In the sixth inning, Grant Richardson cranked his fifth home run in the past seven games, but it was too little too late asm the Redhawks drove in three more run in the top of the seventh.

The Monarchs stand clear 2.5 games ahead of the Redhawks and just a .5 game above Winnipeg. It’s a must win tomorrow night to keep first place in the division and to try to even the series. There is a 6:35 pitch tomorrow at Legends Field.