Monarchs Suffer Series Loss Despite Early Lead

Fargo, ND — After six-straight series wins, the Monarchs finally dropped their second series of the season with a 12-5 defeat to the Redhawks on Tuesday night.

Although there was a rain delay which pushed back the start time, the Monarchs started fast in the first frame when leadoff hitter, Marcus Smith cracked a double to center field. Two batters later, Saul Garza brought home Smith when he spanked an RBI double to center and Kansas City had their first and only lead of the night.

In the bottom of the inning, two runners reached base and then Dillon Thomas was hot at the plate for the second-straight night. He ripped a ball to right field to bring in Jesus Lujano and Juan Fernandez. Two more runs got home later in the inning on a RBI single from Jairus Richards. The Monarchs quickly found themselves down three runs after the first inning.

Kansas City showed a ton of resilience in the next two frames with a pair of tallies in the second. They continued to swing the bat at a high clip offensively with three straight hits. Sahid Valenzuela, Hudson Head, and Brady Lindsly all grabbed a base hit to load the bases with no outs. Josh Bissonette and Nick Martini both sent a sac fly to the outfield to bring in Valenzuela and Head.

Four different pitchers touched the hill for the Monarchs tonight with Austin Hansen earning the start. Jay Groome returned to the mound for the first time since May 20th. The former first round pick pitched in two innings, gave up three runs, but threw three strikeouts.

After a four-hit night in the first game, Austin Callahan continued his outstanding play at the dish with a solo home run to tie up the game in the third inning. The Monarchs clawed their way back from an early three-run deficit, but Fargo put up a five-spot in the bottom of the the third to blow open the game. The first two batters of the inning walked and Jesus Lujano tripled to bring in both Richards and Brian Fuentes. Later in the frame, Fargo continued to muscle in runs when Thomas, Jose Sermo, and Tripp Clark all totaled an RBI single. It was a 9-4 advantage and it was a steep climb for Kansas City.

In the top of the fifth, Garza had a solid night at the plate with a triple into left center field which allowed Smith to score. He finished the night 2-4 with two RBI’s. Garza has continued to find his rhythm at the dish and is now second on the team in batting average (.276)

The Redhawks amassed two runs in the sixth and a tally in the seventh. The Monarchs found themselves down seven runs and could not string together a rally.

The Monarchs still hold a two game advantage over second place Sioux Falls and will have the opportunity to build on that lead with the final game of the series against Fargo at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon.