Big Seventh Inning Propels Monarchs To Win

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A four-run seventh inning shifted the game for the Kansas City Monarchs in what ended up being a seven-inning contest. The Monarchs won 4-1 at Legends Field Friday night over the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The Monarchs pulled ahead with a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, after which the game was called due to rain. 

Cody Deason went 5.1 innings allowing three hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts. The only run of the game for Winnipeg was an unearned run on an error in the third.

Goldeyes starter Joey Matulovich threw six shutout innings allowing only six hits and striking out eight.

This was a pitchers’ duel in every way as no earned runs crossed the plate until the seventh inning.

Peter Maris opened the inning with a double. Aaron Whitefield laid down a perfect bunt for a hit, and Maris scored on a throwing error by Winnipeg second baseman Brynn Martinez.  

An Odubel Herrera single scored Whitefield to make it 2-1 Monarchs. The Monarchs went on to load the bases, and a Jan Hernandez infield single brought in two more runs. 

Kansas City loaded the bases again before the tarp came out, eventually ending the contest before the seventh inning was completed. 

Jordan Martinson got the win (4-1) and Goldeyes lefty Cam Opp got the loss (1-4).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs continue a three-game series versus the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Game two is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Hernandez Stays Hot, But Monarchs Lead Slips Away

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GENEVA, Ill. — Jan Hernandez hit his third home run in four games, but the Kansas City Monarchs fell to the Kane County Cougars 8-7 Thursday night at Northwestern Medicine Field.

The Monarchs led 7-3 midway through the third inning, but allowed five unanswered runs over the next six frames. Armond Upshaw hit a two-run home run in the sixth to put the Cougars ahead for good.

Peter Maris hit a two-run home run in the third inning, his first as a Monarch. Brian O’Grady continued his hot hitting with a two-run double in the first.

The Monarchs remain in first place in the American Association West, one game ahead of Fargo-Moorhead. The RedHawks also lost Thursday.

Monarchs starter Zach Matson went four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits. He walked three without striking out a batter.

Jose Fuentes earned the win in relief for Kane County, throwing three scoreless innings.

The Monarchs will look to get back on the winning track Friday night against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Dotte Proud Night at Legends Field. The first 500 fans in attendance get a free T-shirt.

Miller Throws Complete-Game Shutout; Monarchs Blow Out Cougars

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GENEVA, Ill. — Jalen Miller just kept pitching.

The Kansas City Monarchs right-hander didn’t allow a hit through six innings, and matched his longest outing of the year after a scoreless seventh. Then he got a message from Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra.

“After the seventh, he was like, “This is going to be the hardest two innings of your life. If you want ’em, you’ve got ’em'” Miller said.

Picking up a shorthanded bullpen, Miller closed out the eighth inning with his 107th pitch. He worked around a hit and two walks in the ninth, but held on to finish the game.

Miller threw 133 pitches in the Monarchs 10-0 win over the Kane County Cougars from Northwestern Medicine Field. He gave up three hits and five walks while striking out five.

“The ninth inning, after warmups, I literally couldn’t feel my lower half,” Miller said. “I was just trying to gut it out. It was fun.”

It was a dominant night all around for the Monarchs.

Newcomer Brian O’Grady had three RBIs, including a towering two-run home run in the fifth.

Catcher Gavin Collins also went yard, hitting a two-run blast in the second. He too drove in three runs on the night.

Chris Herrmann hit a two-run single in the third, extending his league-leading RBI total to 47.

Jan Hernandez completed the scoring with an inside-the-park home run in the 9th.

The Monarchs (27-15) have won their last four games, shaking off a 2-6 stretch.

“We’re a professional group of guys, and we’re back on a winning streak,” Miller said. “And I think that’s where we might stay.”

UP NEXT

Kansas City goes for the sweep Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. Zach Matson will pitch for Kansas City against Kane County’s A.J. Jones.

New-Look Monarchs Escape With Extra Inning Win

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GENEVA, Ill. — Three new Kansas City Monarchs took the field Tuesday night, and walked away with an extra-inning victory.

The Monarchs held off the Kane County Cougars 4-3 in 10 innings to take the first game of a three-game series from Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

Third baseman Peter Maris, center fielder Aaron Whitefield and first baseman Brian O’Grady all made their Monarchs debuts in the win.

Kansas City is now 9-1 in one-run games and 4-1 in extra-inning games in 2023.

The Monarchs (26-15) remain in a virtual tie with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for first place in the American Association West.

Tuesday’s game was scoreless through five innings. Monarchs righty Miller Hogan made the spot start in place of Dalton Moats, who was out with an illness.

Hogan threw four scoreless frames, allowing four hits (all singles) and walking one while striking out four.

Kane County starter Tyler Beardsley matched Hogan, allowing just two hits through his first five innings.

The Monarchs broke open the scoring in the sixth. Jan Hernandez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 1-0, and O’Grady drew a walk to force in a second run.

Two batters later, Maris delivered his first base hit as a Monarch, driving in Justin Wylie and making it 3-0.

A two-run home run from former Monarch Daniel Wasinger got Kane County back in the game in the bottom of the sixth, making it 3-2 Kansas City.

The Cougars tied things up in the seventh when Josh Allen scored on a sacrifice fly from Harrison Smith.

Grant Gavin worked a scoreless ninth inning to force extras.

Monarchs hitters went down in order in the 10th inning against Logan Nissen, but a sacrifice fly from Chris Herrmann scored bonus runner Odubel Herrera to make it 4-3 Kansas City.

Harrison Smith singled to lead off the 10th for Kane County, but Grant Gavin retired the next three batters he faced with men on first and third to earn the win.

UP NEXT

Kansas City will look to clinch the series win against Kane County Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Jalen Miller will start for the Monarchs against Kane County’s Jack Fox.

Monarchs Reload Roster With Two Big Leaguers, AAPB Star

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Two big leaguers and a former adversary are coming to the Kansas City Monarchs in the club’s latest blockbuster move.

Power bat Brian O’Grady, outfielder Aaron Whitefield and infielder Peter Maris have all signed with the Monarchs, the American Association club announced Tuesday.

The moves re-load the Monarchs roster after the club had three players transferred to the Mexican League in the last eight days. They’ll provide an immediate boost to a club already tied for first in their division.

O’GRADY BRINGS POWER BAT TO KC

Born in Philadelphia, O’Grady has 62 games of MLB experience with the Reds, Rays and Padres. The 31-year-old has hit four MLB home runs, including two with San Diego in 2021.

O’Grady had connections to the Monarchs before joining the team. Shawn Pender, the Reds’ vice president of player development, is a longtime friend of Calfapietra’s and helped make the signing happen. Pender, O’Grady and Calfapietra all hail from Philadelphia. 

Calfapietra says he’s excited to add O’Grady’s left-handed power to what has been a righty-dominated Monarchs lineup.

An eighth-round draft pick by the Reds out of Rutgers University in 2014, O’Grady made his big-league debut with the Reds in 2019.

Last season, O’Grady played in Japan with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He hit 15 home runs in 123 games in what’s considered the most competitive league in the world outside of MLB.

O’Grady started the 2023 season with the Korea Baseball Organization’s Hanwha Eagles before heading to the Monarchs.

DEFENSIVE WHIZ WHITEFIELD JOINS MONARCHS

An outfielder known for his outstanding defense, Whitefield made his MLB debut in 2020 with the Twins. He returned to the big leagues with the Angels in 2022.

Born in Brisbane, Australia, Whitefield has represented his country at two World Baseball Classics as well as the 2019 Premier12.

Calfapietra said he heard about Whitefield’s eye-popping defense from former T-Bones manager Kenny Hook. Hook was Whitefield’s hitting coach in Double-A last season.

“He told me how he’s a plus-plus defender, has plus-plus speed,” Calfapietra said.

The 26-year-old has played six seasons on home soil in the Australian Baseball League, most recently teaming up with fellow Monarchs outfielder Jacob Robson with the Melbourne Aces a few months ago.

Whitefield made his pro debut in the states in 2015 with the Twins organization at the age of 18. He earned Postseason All-Star honors in the Gulf Coast League the following season.

By 2019 he was in Double-A; he’d earn the call to the majors the following season.

The native of Philadelphia moved to the Angels organization in 2022, breaking into the big leagues that May. He owns eight career MLB appearances.

He began the 2023 season with Double-A Rocket City in the Angels’ system.

FORMER ADVERSARY JOINS KANSAS CITY

Maris joins the Monarchs after winning a league title with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks last season.

A versatile infielder who can play short, second and third, Maris was the RedHawks’ leadoff hitter in 2022. He earned the league’s Batter of the Month award for August.

“He’s one of those guys that’s a tough out. I think we could use a little bit of that,” Calfapietra said. “We have such a good lineup, I feel, but having another guy that’s going to grind out at-bats is important.”

The Southern California native hit a career-high 20 home runs and 31 doubles over 95 games with the RedHawks last season. He hit .265 with two home runs in the playoffs. That included a West Division Finals win over the Monarchs.

The 29-year-old is in his eighth professional season and second in the American Association. Signed as a nondrafted free agent by the Rays in 2015, he’d made his Triple-A debut in 2019 with the Giants organization.

Over six affiliated seasons, Maris owns a career .269/.345/.404 slash line. He began the 2023 season in the Mexican League, collecting 10 hits in 18 games between Oaxaca and Monclova.

Maris can play shortstop, second base and third base, a key asset for Calfapietra as he builds his lineup.

The Monarchs start a three-game road series against the Kane County Cougars on Tuesday before heading back home to Kansas City this weekend. Find their full schedule at MonarchsBaseball.com/Schedule.

Finnegan, Home Runs Lock Up Series Win

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A three-homer fourth inning for the Kansas City Monarchs (25-15) was the difference in an 8-3 rubber-game win over the Chicago Dogs (21-19) at Legends Field Sunday afternoon.

Monarchs starting pitcher Brandon Finnegan had his best start of the season. Finnegan threw seven innings, tying his season high. The former Kansas City Royal allowed only one run on four hits and tallied six strikeouts.

The Monarchs are now tied for first place in the West Division with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks.

Jan Hernandez had a bounce-back game of his own. Hernandez finished 2-for-5 including a solo home run and two RBIs.

Dylan Rosa and Olivier Basabe hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to help Kansas City pull away.

The game started out as a pitchers duel. Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning.

Chris Herrmann started the scoring for the Monarchs with an RBI single. It was 1-0 Monarchs after three innings.

Rosa hit his second homer in as many games with a two-run shot in the fourth. Basabe followed him with his own solo home run. Hernandez smashed his first homer since June 13 and it was 5-0 Monarchs after four.

Luke Mangieri hit a solo home run in the fifth to put the Dogs on the board. That homer made it 5-1 Monarchs after five.

The Monarchs would score three more in the sixth inning. An RBI from Hernandez, a ground out from Adolfo that scored a run, and a Gavin Collins RBI made it 8-1 Monarchs through six innings.

Trey Jeans and Patrick Weigel entered to close the door on the Dogs in the eighth and ninth innings.

A ninth-inning two-run homer from David Maberry brought the game to its final score.

Finnegan got the win (3-1) and Ryan O’Reilly got the loss (2-5).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs begin a three-game road series versus the Kane County Cougars. Game one is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Monarchs Bounce Back With 14-Run Outing

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas City Monarchs could not miss at the plate in their 14-6 victory over the Chicago Dogs at Legends Field Saturday night.

A season high-tying 18-hit effort from the Monarchs’ offense was the big story. The Monarchs scored a run in every inning except for the eighth.

Dylan Rosa went a perfect 4-for-4 with a three-run homer. Rosa finished with three RBIs, three runs scored, and a walk to lead the Monarchs at the plate.

Justin Wylie and Chris Herrmann also homered for the Monarchs. Wylie finished the game with three hits and four runs scored.

Kansas City started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning on Herrmann’s home run, a solo shot to make it 1-0.

The Dogs would answer with a solo shot from Nick Heath. Heath’s homer tied the game 1-1 in the second inning.

Olivier Basabe continued his hot streak at the plate. An RBI single from Basabe and LJ Hatch put the Monarchs up 3-1 after two innings.

Chicago answered with a groundout from Ryan Lidge that brought in a run. It was 3-2 Monarchs in the third inning.

A Gavin Collins RBI double, Justin Wylie RBI single and a rare catcher’s interference call with the bases loaded put the Monarchs ahead 5-2 in the bottom of the third inning.

Rosa’s home run made it 9-2 Kansas City after four, but the Dogs cut the lead to four with a fifth-inning three-run blast from Ryan Lidge. It was 9-5 Monarchs after the top of the fifth inning.

Kansas City pulled away from there, taking a 14-5 lead into the ninth.

Monarchs starter Cody Deason threw a season-high six innings, allowing five runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Jordan Martinson threw two scoreless frames in relief of Deason.

Matt Hartman would enter to close out the game. A ninth-inning Chicago homer from Donivan Williams brought the game to its final score.

Deason got the win (4-1) and Nick Green got the loss (2-3).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs conclude their three-game series versus the Chicago Dogs. Game three is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.

Broxton Transferred To Mexican League

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas City Monarchs center fielder Keon Broxton is moving on.

Broxton has had his contract transferred to Monclova of the Mexican League, the Monarchs announced Saturday.

“On and off the field, Keon’s presence in the clubhouse, everywhere he went, he was a pro’s pro,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “We’re going to miss him, but obviously we’re so happy that we played a small part in him getting this opportunity.”

Broxton is the fourth player to have his contract transferred from the Monarchs this season. Pitcher Jackson McClelland was signed by the Royals organization just before the season began. Outfielder Johneshwy Fargas and infielder Edwin Diaz both left for Saltillo in the Mexican League on June 19.

The former Milwaukee Brewer produced a .254/.382/.469 slash line in 35 games with the Monarchs, hitting six home runs and driving in 18. That included a pair of home runs in the Monarchs’ home opener on May 19.

He finished his Monarchs tenure on a 10-game hit streak, batting .378 with two home runs and five RBIs over that span. He went 3-for-5 with two doubles in Kansas City’s game with Chicago Friday night.

The Lakeland, Florida native returns to Monclova after spending the 2022 season there. He ranked fourth in the league with a 1.150 OPS last summer, racking up 20 home runs and 12 steals over 73 games.

Broxton has suited up for the Pirates, Brewers, Mets, Orioles and Mariners over parts of five major league seasons. Fans in Milwaukee remember his exciting 2017 season, where he joined the 20-20 club and made plenty of electrifying defensive plays.

The Monarchs are searching for their fourth straight division title in 2023. They currently sit at 23-15, 1.5 games out of first place in the American Association West.

The Monarchs take on the Chicago Dogs Saturday night at 6 p.m. for Disney Night at the ballpark. Fans can watch live on 38 the Spot.

Monarchs Fall Short In Game Of The Year Contender

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Despite multiple scoring chances, the Kansas City Monarchs fell short 7-4 in a contender for their game of the year against the Chicago Dogs at Legends Field Friday night.

The Monarchs loaded the bases twice in the late innings but failed to drive in runs which proved to be the difference in the game.

A ninth inning two-RBI single from David Maberry was the exclamation point for the Dogs in the series opener win.

Odubel Herrera went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in his first Monarchs start. He also made an impressive diving catch in center field in the second inning.

Chicago kicked off the scoring in the second. After loading the bases, RBIs from Cody Bohanek, Donivan Williams, and Matt Bottcher made it 4-0.

The Monarchs responded in the bottom of the second with a Gavin Collins solo homer. Justin Wylie’s RBI single scored newly Herrera. It was 4-2 Dogs after two innings.

Chris Herrmann hit an RBI single in the third inning to bring the Monarchs within a run, but Jan Hernandez was tagged out at the plate trying to bring the tying run across on the play.

Both teams went quiet until the fifth inning. A wild pitch scored Jesus Lujano that made it 5-3 Chicago after five innings.

The Monarchs battled with loaded bases in the fifth and sixth innings but no runs crossed.

Grant Gavin threw three perfect innings in relief of starter Zach Matson, striking out five.

Chicago would score two more runs in the top of the ninth that made it 7-3.

Keon Broxton doubled off the top of the wall in the ninth inning and later came around to score, but that was all the Monarchs got in the frame.

Trevor Lane got the win (2-2) and Matson got the loss (1-1).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs continue their three-game series versus the Chicago Dogs. Game two is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday on 38 the Spot.

Big Sixth Inning Derails Monarchs

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In what started out as a pitcher’s duel for the Kansas City Monarchs and Sioux City Explorers, the Explorers’ big sixth inning was the difference in their 8-1 victory at Legends Field Thursday night.

A Miguel Sierra triple and a Daniel Perez two-run homer put the Explorers ahead 5-0 in the sixth inning.

The win gives Sioux City the series victory over the Monarchs, who will look to bounce back Friday night against Chicago.

The Explorers began the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly from Jack Kelly in the second inning. From there, the game remained quiet as both starting pitchers were dominant.

Sioux City starter Trenton Toplikar threw eight innings of one-run ball, scattering seven hits while walking one and striking out five.

The sixth inning was where the Explorers took off. A single from John Nogowski put runners in scoring position. The Sierra triple would score two runs and it was 3-0 in the sixth inning. A two-run homer from Perez made it 5-0 after six innings.

Kansas City starter Jalen Miller allowed four runs over five innings of work on three hits, He walked five and struck out four.

The only run the Monarchs had was on a solo homer from Justin Wylie in the sixth inning. That solo shot was his first of the year at Legends Field and second overall.

The Explorers got three unearned runs in the eighth inning to go up 8-1.

Monarchs outfielder Odubel Herrera made his team debut in the ninth inning, pinch-hitting and striking out to end the game.

Trenton Toplikar got the win (1-0) and Jalen Miller got the loss (4-2).

UP NEXT

The Monarchs begin a three-game series versus the Chicago Dogs. Game one is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday.