MONARCHS RULE WINNIPEG

/in /by

The Kansas City Monarchs (62-34) erased a 4-2 deficit in a five run sixth inning Wednesday night at Shaw Park, to overtake the Winnipeg Goldeyes (50-46) 8-5 completing a three-game sweep. The win extended the Monarchs winning streak to a season long eight games and was the sixth win this season in Winnipeg in six tries.

The Monarchs would get the game started with a lead off single for Mallex Smith off Goldeyes starter Landen Bourassa followed by another single by Darnell Sweeny. Ryan Grotjohn would single to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. The Goldeyes would answer with a solo home run by Max Murphy in the bottom of the first to tie the game off Nick Belzer (6-2) who got the starting nod for the Monarchs.

The Goldeyes would take the lead on an Ian Sagdal single in the third inning and add two more off Belzer in the fourth. Jacob Rhinesmith would hit a solo home run to left and Winnipeg would grab two more hits in the inning a make it 4-1 on a sacrifice fly from Reggie Pruitt Jr to lead it 4-1.

Kansas City cut the lead to two in the top of the fifth off Bourassa. Kevin Santa singled to start the inning, but the right-hander quickly retired the next two batters. Ryan Grotjohn worked a walk to put runners at first and second. Jacob Robson would deliver an RBI double to make it 4-2 in favor of the Goldeyes.

The big inning for Kansas City came in the top of the sixth. Winnipeg brought in Paul Schwendel out of the pen, and he would give up three straight hits to the Monarchs. J.C. Escarra and Casey Gillaspie both reached with Escarra scoring on an RBI single from Gio Brusa to cut the lead to 4-3. Kevin Santa would then hit into a fielder’s choice to force Brusa at second for the first out. Mallex Smith would work a walk to load the bases for Darnell Sweeney bringing a pitching change for Winnipeg. Lefty Travis Seabrook got the Monarchs third baseman to hit a roller to the right side of the mound that Seabrook would field and elect to throw home instead of on to first. The throw was late as Casey Gillaspie scored to tie the game at four. Ryan Grotjohn then drove in a pair with an RBI single to give the Monarchs the lead at 6-4. Jacob Robson drove in the seventh run on an infield single to make it a 7-4 Monarchs advantage. Erasmo Pinales would come into the game and get the final two outs to slow Kansas City.

Nick Belzer would be done after five innings tossing a final line of 5.0IP, 4R, 4ER, 2BB and 3SO and getting his sixth win this season. The Monarchs then went to the pen in the home half of the sixth with Jeremey Rhoades coming into the game. The Goldeyes would get a leadoff double from Michael Crouse, but Rhoads retired the next three batters to preserve the lead of 7-4 after six.

Left-hander Jordan Martinson would come into the game in the bottom of the seventh after the Monarchs failed to score in the top of the frame. Winnipeg would pick up an unearned run on a lead off walk by Reggie Pruitt Jr followed by a fielder’s choice that moved the runner to second. Pruitt Jr then moved to third on a stolen base with two outs. Ian Sagdal would walk to put runners at the corners. Sadgal would get caught in a run-down allowing Pruitt Jr to score with the Monarchs throw home wide of the plate to cut the lead to 7-5.

The Monarchs would buy the insurance policy in the top of the ninth. Casey Gillaspie and Gio Brusa drew walks off reliever Tasker Strobel to put two aboard for Kevin Santa. The Monarchs shortstop delivered an RBI double to make it 8-5 Kansas City.

In the bottom of the ninth Alex Valdez would be summoned into the game for the Monarchs allow a single to Raul Navarro but pick up the first out when Ian Sagdal forced Navarro out at second on a fielder’s choice. Max Murphy would single but Valdez got David Washington to fly to shallow center and struck out Michael Crouse to end the game.

The win kept the Monarchs 1.5 games behind the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for the West Division lead in the American Association with four games to play. The Monarchs will be off Thursday (9/1) but will open the four-game series with the first place RedHawks Friday night (9/2) at Legends Field in Kansas City. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Belzer (6-2)

LP: Schwendel (2-4)

S: Valdez (1)

Boxscore

By: Dan Vaughan, Jr. 

BONNE NUIT TO THE GOLDEYES

/in /by

On Francophile night in Canada, the Kansas City Monarchs (61-34) declared “victoire” against the Winnipeg Goldeyes (50-45) by a score of 3-2 Tuesday night at Shaw Park. With Matt Hall on the “monticule” for the Monarchs and Freisis Adames for the Goldeyes, the Monarchs continued their winning streak—now seven in a row—as they marched closer the postseason.

While the first two innings remained scoreless, the Monarchs were first to get on board in the third inning. After a Kevin Santa base hit and a stolen a base, Santa then moved to third on a throwing error on catcher Deon Stafford Jr. After a wild pitch, Kevin Santa gifted the Monarchs with an early lead, 1-0.

The Goldeyes bats could not gain any traction off pitcher Matt Hall or the Monarchs’ defense, but Mallex Smith’s solo home run off of Freisis Adames (the teams’ 160th) in the fifth inning kept the Monarchs power numbers inching higher. The Monarchs are now three shy of tying a franchise record of 162 home runs set in 2010 as members of the old Northern League.

In the seventh inning, Dylan Harris led off the inning with a single. With two outs, left fielder Logan Hill, who made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Ryan Grotjohn of a homer an inning before, would drop a  fly ball off the bat of Mallex Smith. Dylan Harris would race around to score on the play, adding to the Monarchs’ lead, 3-0.

In le neuf inning, Jameson McGrane came in for the save, and the Goldeyes bats awakened, making the final half inning a bit of a nail biter for KC. A single by Kevin LaChance and a solo home run by Reggie Pruitt, Jr brought the Goldeyes within striking distance, 3-2, but Jameson McGrane and the Monarchs’ defense kept the Goldeyes from the steal, winning again in Canada, 3-2.

The Monarchs will play the final game of this three-game series against Winnipeg tomorrow night (8/31) at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Matt Hall (10-2)

LP: Freisis Adames (7-4)

S: Jameson McGrane

Boxscore

By: GMW Vaughan

MONARCHS MAKE IT SIX IN A ROW

/in /by

The Kansas City Monarchs (60-34) crossed into Canada Monday and did not miss a beat as the team clubbed 15 hits and scored 12 runs in a 12-5 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes (50-43) at Shaw Park. The win extended the Monarchs winning streak to six games.

Ryan Grotjohn got the Monarchs on the board in the top of the first with a two out solo home run to left field to make it 1-0 off Winnipeg starter Luis Ramirez (10-6). The Goldeyes tied it in the second on an RBI double from Logan Hill off Monarchs starter Matt Hartman (ND).

Kansas City would take the lead for good in the top of the fourth with a three-run home run for Casey Gillaspie with two outs to make it 4-1. It was his 17th of the season and his 52nd in franchise history. The Monarchs plated two more runs in the top of the fifth with a two out single from Kevin Santa followed by a double from Ryan Grotjohn. With runners at second and third Jacob Robson drove both runners home with a double to extend the lead to 6-1. It was Robson’s 19th RBI in his last 10 games.

Winnipeg would load the bases off Hartman in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out. Brian Glowicki would come into the game and give up a sacrifice fly to Jacob Rhinesmith to cut the lead to 6-2. Logan Hill would be hit by a pitch to load the bases once again. Kevin Lachance would drive a pair home with an RBI single, but Glowicki would strikeout Hidekel Gonzalez to end the inning with the Monarchs leading 6-4.

The Monarchs would answer once again with four more runs in the top of the sixth. Luis Ramirez got the first two outs of the inning but would leave the game after a single by Pete Kozma. Travis Seabrooke came in from the pen for the Goldeyes and would give up a single to Dylan Harris followed by back-to-back doubles from Mallex Smith and Kevin Santa to make it a 9-4 Kansas City. Ryan Grotjohn picked up his third hit of the night on an infield single, but a Goldeyes error would allow another run to score to up the lead to 10-4

Kansas City added two more runs in the seventh on a fielder’s choice from Pete Kozma and an RBI single for Mallex Smith, his second of the night to make it a 12- 4 Monarchs lead. Brian Glowicki would work 3.2 innings with five strikeouts to pick up the relief win for Kansas City. Alex Valdez worked the ninth inning and gave up a solo home run to Max Murphy to make it a final 12-5 for Kansas City.

The Monarchs winning streak sits at six and the win cut into the West Division lead for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to 2.5 games with six games to play.

The Monarchs continue their six-game road trip with the second game of a three-game series across the border against the Winnipeg Goldeyes tomorrow night (8/30) at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchsbaseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Glowicki (2-0)

LP: Ramirez (10-6)

Boxscore

MONARCHS CLEAN CAGE WITH A SWEEP

/in /by

The Kansas City Monarchs (59-34) rode the arm of Jalen Miller (1-0) who tossed six innings and recorded a quality start and a barrage at the plate to complete the three-game sweep over the Sioux Falls Canaries (32-61) 13-8 Sunday afternoon at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Miller, who was signed last week for the Monarchs made his first start for the club and was in a solid groove all day. He tossed five scoreless innings, holding the Canaries to two hits until Sioux Falls would scratch out a pair of runs in the sixth.

The Monarchs jumped on Sioux Falls starter Stevie Ledesma (4-5) early, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Before the beverages were warm on the 80-degree day, Mallex Smith doubled then came home on an RBI single from Kevin Santa to make it 1-0. With two outs and two aboard, Gio Brusa roped a single to right center to score a pair and make it 3-0.

Ledesma would then retire 10 in a row until the fifth and the Monarchs got hot again. Dylan Harris walked to get the inning started then would be followed by a Mallex Smith single to put runners at the corners. Kevin Santa then drove in his second of the day on an RBI single to make it 4-0 Kansas City. Ryan Grotjohn would single, but Smith would be thrown out at home to put runners at first and second. The Monarchs pulled off a double steal to move the runners up for Jacob Robson. Robson cranked a ball to right center to score both runners with a double to make it 6-0. A wild pitch would move Robson to third for Jan Hernandez who hit a sac fly to left to score Robson and it was 7-0 in favor of KC.

In the sixth, the Monarch would strike again facing reliever Christian Johnson. Pete Kozma would single and move to third on Mallex Smith’s second double. Kevin Santa would walk to load the bases for Ryan Grotjohn who smacked a double and scored two runs to extend the lead to 9-0. After a wild pitch, Jacob Robson would hit a roller to short to score Grotjohn and it was 10-0 Monarchs.

The Canaries got two off Miller in the bottom of the sixth for two runs, but he would punch out Kona Quiggle to record his ninth strikeout and end his outing with the score 10-2. His line for the afternoon was 6.0, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB and 9SO.

The Monarchs picked up three more runs in the seventh on a two-RBI double from Pete Kozma and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Malllex Smith to extend the lead to 13-2. The Canaries would come back with five runs in the bottom of the seventh off Frank Rubio to make it 13-7. Aaron Takacs drove in one run, Kona Quiggle had a two RBI double, and Angelo Altavilla added another RBI to cut into the Monarchs lead. The Canaries got a solo home run with two outs in bottom of the ninth from Altavilla who finished 5-for-5 in the loss.

The Monarchs won for the fifth game in a row and finished the season 13-2 against Sioux Falls. The Monarchs with the 12 strikeouts tied a franchise high as a pitching staff of 897 set in 2017.

The Monarchs continue their six-game road trip with the first game of a three-game series across the border against  Winnipeg Goldeyes tomorrow night (8/29) at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchsbaseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Miller (1-0)

LP: Ledesma (5-4)

 Boxscore

By: DAN VAUGHAN JR.

MONARCHS CLIP BIRDS IN NAIL BITER

/in /by

The Kansas City Monarchs (58-34) were one strike away from securing an win before the Sioux Falls Canaries (32-60) tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. Kansas City would not waste the extra innings as the Monarchs would plate two runs in the top of the 10th to send their winning streak to four games in a 3-1 thriller.

Brock Gilliam was outstanding for the Monarchs in getting a no decision. The Basehor, Kansas native tossed 5.2 shutout innings while allowing only two hits; he would leave in the sixth with a 1-0 lead. The Canaries got a great effort as well from their starter Neal Lang. The lefty went 5.1 innings, giving up one earned run with six strikeouts.

The game was goose eggs until the sixth although the Monarchs did threaten in the second and the fourth innings with a runner at third but could not push across a run. That all changed in the top of the sixth. Jacob Robson would work a walk off Lang then a fielder’s choice from Jan Hernandez would force out Robson at second for out number one. Casey Gillaspie would single to put runners at first and second and chase Lang to the showers. Gio Brusa would single to load the bases for the Monarchs. Pete Kozma hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Hernandez for a 1-0 lead.

The Canaries would get two on with two outs in the home half of the sixth, but Alex Valdez was able to get the final out of the inning to keep the game 1-0. Valdez would strikeout the side in the seventh, and lefty Jordan Martinson would allow two hits but work around them in the eighth, including getting Jabari Henry to fly out to left with two outs.

Jameson McGrane came in for Kansas City after a scoreless top of the ninth for “kay-see”.  He would strikeout the first batter, Trey Michalczewski, but walk Connor Blair. He then struck out Kona Squiggle for the second out of the inning. John Nester would work a full count walk to put runners at first and second. Angelo Altavilla would single to left to tie the game at one in the bottom of the ninth. McGrane would strike out Nick Gotta to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th the Monarchs would start with Mallex Smith at second base, facing Mitchell Walters who worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the Canaries. Ryan Grotjohn would hit an infield single to put runners at the corners. Walters then stumbled in his delivery and did not deliver a pitch and was called for a balk to score Smith and move Grotjohn to second, giving the Monarchs a 2-1 lead. Kevin Santa would walk and then Jacob Robson would strikeout for out number one. Jan Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Walters uncorked a wild pitch to score Grotjohn for a 3-1 lead. Walters then got back-to-back punch outs on Gillaspie and Brusa to take the game to the bottom of the 10th.

The Canaries started Gotta at second as the zombie runner. McGrane would hit Ozzie Martinez with a pitch to put runners at first and second. Wyatt Ulrich hit a ground ball to short, but with Martinez running on the pitch, Monarchs shortstop Pete Kozma threw home to get Gotta by a mile for out number one. The Monarchs would summon Brian Glowicki into the game and he would get a big strikeout of Henry and then a ground ball to second off the bat of Michalczewski that Santa threw to Kozma to force out Ulrich to close the door on the birds.

The Monarchs and Canaries will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow afternoon(8/28) at 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 12:35 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchsbaseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: McGrane (3-3)

LP: Walters (0-2)

S: Glowicki (1)

Boxscore

By: DAN VAUGHAN, JR. 

BELZER AND BATS CAGE CANARIES

/in /by

Nick Belzer (5-2) of the Kansas City Monarchs (57-34) tossed his third quality start in a row, and J.C. Escarra went yard twice as the Monarchs beat the Sioux Falls Canaries (32-59) Saturday night, 7-4.

The Monarchs took the lead in the top of the third inning off “birds” starter Colby Wyatt (4-4) with a walk by Dylan Harris and a drag bunt single from Mallex Smith. Kevin Santa would show bunt on the first pitch that was low for a ball then foul the second offering to even the count at 1-1. He then roped a double down the right field line to score Harris, giving the Monarchs the lead. Darnell Sweeney would score Smith on a fielder’s choice to make it 2-0. With two outs, Jan Hernandez then hit an infield single to score Santa to give “kay-see” the 3-0 advantage.

Jabari Henry drove in a run off Belzer with a single in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-1. The Monarchs came right back with a solo home run from J.C. Escarra in the top of the fourth to lead off the inning. It was his 11th of the year.

Kona Quiggle got the Canaries on the board in the home half of the fourth to make it a 4-2 lead for the Monarchs on an RBI single. Sioux Falls would grab another run on a solo home run from Henry in the fifth to make it a one-run game at 4-3. It was Henry’s 27th long ball of the year.

In the top of the sixth the Monarchs picked up and unearned run to make it 5-3 in favor of Kansas City. Casey Gillaspie would single off Cesilio Pimentel and score with two outs on a single to right from Harris that was misplayed for an error in right by Connor Blair.

Belzer would work a 1-2-3 sixth inning, including finishing the inning by teaming up with Casey Gillaspie on a on three-to-one put out at first base. It was the third consecutive quality start for Belzer who finished with a line of 6IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 5SO in the win. The Monarchs got a scoreless stanza from Jeremey  Rhoades out of the pen in the seventh.

In the eighth inning Gillaspie would work a one-out walk off Pimentel to get aboard for J.C. Escarra. The Florida native launched a two-run blast into the teeth of the south wind for his second home run of the night and his 12th of the season to make it 7-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Wyatt Ulrich would hit an inside-the-park home run off Jameson McGrane to make it a 7-4 score. McGrane then would punch out Henry to end the game and give the Monarchs their third straight win and open the six-game road trip with a W.

The Monarchs and Canaries will play game two of their three-game series tomorrow night (8/27) at 6:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 5:35 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchsbaseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Belzer (5-2)

LP: Wyatt (4-4)

Boxscore

BY: DAN VAUGHAN JR. 

MONARCHS MARCH CONTINUES IN WIN

/in /by

The Kansas City Monarchs (56-34) won the final game of the four-game series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes (49-41) by a score of 7-4 Thursday night at Legends Field. It was the Monarchs 33rd win at home this season and their seventh against the Goldeyes in nine games.

With Matt Hall on the mound for the Monarchs and Jhon Vargas for the Goldeyes, both teams’ offenses fired up early. Winnipeg got on the board first as Raul Navarro’s single got the Goldeyes started. Ian Sagdal followed with another single, but the wild pitch to Max Murphy allowed the Goldeyes to score, starting the game with an early Winnipeg lead 1-0.

The Goldeyes’ lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Mallex Smith, Ryan Grotjohn, and Darnell Sweeny all got free passes, loading the bases off Vargas. Jacob Robson slammed a triple to left field, clearing the bases to take back the lead, 3-1. The Monarchs bats stayed hot as Jan Hernandez hit a single up the middle that brought in Robson, followed by a single from Gio Brusa and a double from Pete Kozma that scored both Jan Hernandez and Gio Brusa, bringing the lead to 6-1 at the end of the first inning.

The second inning remained quiet, but Winnipeg’s bats fired back up in the third. Reggie Pruitt Jr. started the inning off with a base hit, followed by another from Raul Navarro. A double by Ian Sagdal brought in Reggie Pruitt Jr, and a Max Murphy fielder’s choice scored Raul Navarro as the Goldeyes cut into the Monarchs lead, 6-3. The Goldeyes Ryan Blanton came in for Jhon Vargas and managed to hold the Monarchs scoreless in the bottom of the third.

The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings remained scoreless, but Winnipeg started to threaten in the top of the eighth as Max Murphy advanced to first on a hit-by-a-pitch by Jeremy Rhoades. David Washington followed with a walk; then Jacob Rhinesmith advanced to first on a single, bringing in Max Murphy and cutting into the Monarchs lead, 6-4.

In the home half of the eighth, Alexis Olmeda hit a solo home run bomb to right field off Tasker Strobel, and the Monarchs took the run right back.

Brandon Koch came in for the save in the ninth inning, striking out the side and ending the game with a 7-4 win for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs begin a three-game series tomorrow night (8/26) against the Sioux Falls Canaries at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Matt Hall (9-2)

LP: Jhon Vargas (4-3)

S: Brandon Koch (5)

Boxscore

By: GMW Vaughan

MONARCHS LONG BALL NETS WIN

/in /by

The Winnipeg Goldeyes (49-40) looked to be well on their way to a third straight win over the Kansas City Monarchs (55-34) Wednesday night at Legends Field in Kansas City, holding a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. Then the Monarchs bats awoke with three lighting strikes in a three home run bottom half of the fourth inning, to propel “kay-see” to a 10-7 win.

The Goldeyes jumped out early to a 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run home run from Ian Sagdal in the top of the first off Monarchs starter Matt Hartman (6-5). In the second Reggie Pruitt Jr drove another run home with an RBI single to make it 3-0. In the top of the fourth Raul Navarro would add another RBI single to make it 4-0 in favor of the “Manitobans”.

The home half of the fourth was a game changer. Ryan Grotjohn and Darnell Sweeney both reached on singles off Luis Ramirez, who had allowed just one hit and one walk up until that point. Jacob Robson hit a three-run homer to left to cut the lead to 4-3.  Jan Hernandez would follow with a solo shot over the hometown pen to tie the game at four. Ramirez was able to get a ground out on Casey Gillaspie but could not solve J.C. Escarra. The Monarchs catcher would hit a solo homer to right field to give Kansas City the lead 5-4.  It was the fourth time this season the Monarchs have had a three-home run inning.

The Goldeyes would even the game up in the top of the fifth on a Logan Hill RBI double, but the Monarchs came right back to take the lead for good in the bottom of the stanza. Ryan Grotjohn would work a walk off R.J. Martinez (8-5) and fly around the sacks on a Darnell Sweeney RBI double down the left field line to grab the 6-5 advantage.

Kansas City would hit their fourth long ball of the night in the sixth inning. Pete Kozma would single with one out of Bryan Blanton. The Winnipeg right hander had held opponents to a .118 average, but the Monarchs came through with a walk of Mallex Smith and a three run blast for Ryan Grotjohn to push the lead to 9-5.

“Winnie” then would pick up a pair of runs in the seventh off Monarchs reliever Brian Glowicki. Kevin Lachance drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Logan Hill added another run on a triple to cut the lead to 9-7.

The Monarchs got their final marker in the home half of the eighth on an RBI single off the bat of Pete Kozma. Jameson McGrane picked up the save and got a game ending double play after a one out walk off the bat of Lachance.

The Monarchs picked up their 37th multi home run game and have homered in 70 of their 89 games. While the team continues to add to their American Association record of home runs with 154 the Monarchs are eight shy of a franchise mark of 162 set in the old Northern League in 2010.

The Monarchs and Goldeyes will wrap up the four-game series tomorrow night (8/25) at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visitingmonarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Hartman (6-5)

LP: Martinez (8-5

S: McGrane (16)

 Boxscore

By: DAN VAUGHAN JR.

FISH REEL IN ANOTHER WIN

/in /by

A week ago the Kansas City Monarchs (54-34) went to Canada and had their way with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (49-39) winning all three games. What a difference a week has made, as after two games of the four game series, the Goldeyes have a 2-0 series lead following a 7-5 win at Legends Field Tuesday night.

The Monarchs Mallex Smith started the game with a walk and stole a pair of bases and would come home on a Darnell Sweeney fielders’ choice to take a 1-0 lead after one. The game stayed that way a matter of minutes as Winnipeg got rolling in the second.

The Goldeyes borrowed a page from the Monarchs play book using the long ball off of Monarchs starter Jordan Martinson. Logan Hill walked and then came home on a two run homer from Kevin Lachance to make it 2-1 Winnipeg. The fish then got another walk from Deon Stafford Jr. followed by a fly out by Reggie Pruitt Jr for out number one.  Raul Navarro then stepped to the plate and launched a home run to left to give Winnipeg a 4-1 lead. The Goldeyes added another run on an RBI single from Max Murphy and it was 5-1 in favor of Winnipeg.

The Monarchs would grab a run back in the top of the third on an RBI single from Darnell Sweeney off Goldeyes starter Alex Hart. Winnipeg came right back with an answer in the top of the fourth. Newly signed Monarch Jalen Miller provided Navarro with free transportation to first. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt and a wild pitch moved the runner to third. Max Murphy picked up his second RBI of the game and 82nd on the season on a sacrifice fly scoring Navarro.

On the mound neither starter would figure in the decision. In the pen, Miller would allow just one earned run in 4.2 innings of hitless ball in his Monarchs debut, while R.J. Martinez would allow one earned run in two innings to pick up the relief win.

With the Monarchs trailing 6-2 in the sixth Jacob Robson hit a solo home run to right off Martinez. It was his third game with at least one long ball and his sixth of the season. The Monarchs would load the bases in the seventh, but Zac Ryan struck out Sweeney to end the threat for “kay-see”.

In the top of the ninth the Goldeyes picked up a big insurance run on a double from Max Murphy off Jameson McGrane. David Washington would single to right and move Murphy to third. Jacob Rhinesmith would hit a sac fly to left to score Murphy and the lead was 7-3.

The Monarchs would battle back in the ninth to make it interesting. Pete Kozma singled and Alexis Olmeda doubled off lefty Tasker Strobel. Mallex Smith singled to load the bases for Kansas City. Ryan Grotjohn hit a fielder’s choice to score one run but force out Smith at second. Darnell Sweeney would single in Olmeda for his third RBI of the night to cut the lead to two runs. Once again, the Monarch had a chance with the winning run at the plate but back to back strikeout by Robson and Jan Hernandez would end the night for the Monarchs and give the Goldeyes a 7-5 win. The loss dropped Kansas City five full games behind front running Fargo and five games clear of Winnipeg for second place in the American Association West.

The Monarchs will try to end their three game losing streak tomorrow night (8/24) in game three of the four game series with the Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visitingmonarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

WP: Martinez (8-4)

LP: Martinson (5-2)

S: NA

Boxscore

By: DAN VAUGHAN JR.

MONARCHS RECLAIM HOME RUN CROWN

/in /by

The Kansas City Monarchs (54-33) set a new American Association single season home run record by belting three long balls on Monday night at Legends Field, but the Winnipeg Goldeyes (48-39) spoiled the historic night by hitting two homers of their own and pounding out 12 hits in a 7-5 win.

The Goldeyes threatened early on in this one, as Monarchs starter Brock Gilliam allowed a pair of base hits in the top of the first, putting runners at the corners with two outs. A wild pitch in the next at-bat would score Ian Sagdal and the Goldeyes would leave the first half-inning of the game with a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half, Jacob Robson would reach by way of the walk and later reach third on a stolen base with an errant throw to the outfield from catcher Deon Stafford Jr., but he would be stranded at third the next at bat, keeping the score 1-0 Winnipeg.

Gilliam looked much sharper in the second inning, as he put together a 1-2-3 inning with back-to-back punchouts to end it. The Monarchs offense would follow up with a modified 1-2-3 inning off their own after Darnell Sweeney led the inning off with a single but would be thrown out at second base three pitches later.

In the third, the top of the Goldeyes order would do some more damage. Raul Navarro would lead the inning off with a triple, and Ian Sagdal would then collect a pair of RBIs with a two-run shot to the right field Home Run Hill, extending the Winnipeg lead to 3-0. The base knock/home run one-two punch would come once again after the next batter, Max Murphy, smacked a single before the batter after him, David Washington, would add to his American Association lead in the home runs category with a two-run shot, lengthening the Goldeyes’ lead to five. On the Monarchs’ side of things, Kevin Santa would lace a one-out single to the 5-6 hole and then be moved to second on a fielder’s choice from Mallex Smith. Ryan Grotjohn would then get hit by a pitch, bringing Jacob Robson to the plate with runners on first and second. The runners had a head start since Robson drew a full count, and it sure came in handy when Robson went the other way down the third base line for a double just past a diving Ian Sagdal, scoring Santa.

The fourth inning began with a single to center field which got under the glove of Mallex Smith, landing Deon Stafford at third base. Reggie Pruitt Jr. would then rope an RBI single for the Goldeyes’ sixth run. A fielder’s choice would advance Pruitt to second, and a steal of third would set Ian Sagdal up for a sac fly to left, helping the Goldeyes leave the inning with a 7-1 lead. In the Monarchs’ half, Darnell Sweeney put a charge into a 3-2 fastball, turning it out to right field for a solo home run. Unfortunately for Kansas City, this would be the only base hit of the half inning, and the Monarchs would leave the frame down 7-2.

After a four-batter top of the fifth, Kevin Santa would lead the home half off with a single. Following a steal of second, Ryan Grotjohn would smack a hard ground ball straight back to the pitcher Manasa, catching Santa between second and third. Manasa would look Santa back to the bag and throw to second, but Santa got in safely before shortstop Navarro would make an errant throw to first, giving Santa third base. Grotjohn would also steal second, but Casey Gillaspie would ground out to strand the runners in scoring position.

Reggie Pruitt would represent the only offense for the Goldeyes with a double, but he wouldn’t come around to score. The same would happen to the Monarchs after a leadoff Darnell Sweeney double, but the inning would end with him stranded at third.

Frank Rubio would enter on in the beginning of the seventh, ending Brock Gilliam’s night with 10 hits and seven earned, but nine strikeouts through six innings pitched. Rubio would get the job done, getting himself a 1-2-3 inning. For the Monarchs, Santa would stay involved in this one and get on base again, this time by way of an error. This would turn the lineup over to leadoff hitter Mallex Smith, who would reach base on an infield single. Jacob Robson would then load the bases with one out with yet another infield single to first base. Casey Gillaspie would follow Robson with a hard hit sac fly to right field, scoring Santa nad making the score 7-3 Winnipeg.

The eighth would mark Rubio’s second inning of work, where he would once again retire the side scoreless. In the bottom half, Jan Hernandez would send a moonshot past the out-of-town bullpen for the Monarchs’ 148th home run of the season, setting a new American Association single-season record and bringing the score to 7-4. The Monarchs set the old record last season hitting 147 during their championship 2021 season.

In the ninth, Jeremy Rhoades would relieve Frank Rubio and strike out two of three, turning it over to the bottom of the ninth with the Monarchs chasing three. 3 proved to be too much, as despite a solo homer from Jacob Robson, the Monarchs couldn’t mount a comeback, making the final score 7-5.

The Monarchs continue the four-game home series against Winnipeg tomorrow night (8/23) at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

 

 WP: Alex Manasa (4-5)

LP: Brock Gilliam (6-3)

S: McAffer (1)

Boxscore

BY: ADAM COOK