Monarchs Lead Slips Away In Chicago

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By Cal Friedman

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Travis Swaggerty drove four runs, but the Kansas City Monarchs didn’t have enough in their series opener at Chicago Friday night.

Kansas City dropped the first of a 2023 Championship Series rematch, falling to the Chicago Dogs 6-4 at Impact Field. Swaggerty’s four RBIs were a season high.

The Monarchs wasted no time, with five straight hits to open the night. Swaggerty launched a three-run homer the opposite way to make it 3-0 Monarchs in the first inning. 

It was Swaggerty’s fourth home run of the month and fifth overall. 

Kansas City (19-18) got the next RBI from Swaggerty in the fifth inning, recording an infield single to score Channy Ortiz from third. The former Pittsburgh Pirate is now up to 25 RBIs this season.

Chicago (18-19) showed their pop, launching six extra base hits off Monarchs starter Connor Curlis. Antonio Barranca and Brantley Bell each launched go-ahead home runs to give the Dogs the lead in the fourth and fifth innings.

Narciso Crook’s team-leading 13th home run of the year gave the Dogs insurance in the bottom of the eighth.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and Dogs continue their three-game set tomorrow at 6:00 pm. Fans can watch the game on AABaseball.TV and listen at 810WHB.com/Monarchs.

Kansas City Monarchs Roster

Monarchs Add Triple-A Bat Suozzi

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs have a new bat joining the fray.

The Monarchs announced the signing of outfielder Joe Suozzi on Friday afternoon. Suozzi joins Kansas City from the New York Mets’ organization, reaching as high as Triple-A in 2023.

Suozzi will make his Monarchs home debut at Legends Field on Tuesday, June 25th. Tickets are available at monarchsbaseball.com.

The 26-year-old made over 200 appearances in the Mets’ system, recording 18 home runs and 90 RBI. He made 12 appearances in the MiLB this season.

Suozzi is coming off his best professional season, going from Rookie Ball to AAA last season. He hit well in Triple-A Syracuse, batting .270 with 16 RBI.

A native of New York, Suozzi signed for NYM in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. He hit very well at Boston College before the cancellation of the NCAA season with a .414 average with 16 RBI in 15 games.

The Monarchs begin a three-game set against the reigning East Division champion Chicago Dogs on Friday night at Impact Field. All American Association games are available on aabaseall.com, Friday night’s broadcast can also be streamed on radio at www.810whb.com/monarchs.

Monarchs Drop Series Finale, Set For Finals Rematch Friday

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GENEVA, Ill. — Danny Amaral delivered an RBI single, but the Kansas City Monarchs had a night to forget in Kane County, falling to the Cougars Thursday 12-1.

The home side scored six runs in the third inning off Kansas City starter Grant Gavin to pull away, notching 16 hits against five Monarchs pitchers.

Kane County (22-15) starter Tommy Sommer tossed seven shutout innings, his longest start of the season. He allowed three hits and walked one, striking out three in the 92-pitch performance.

The Monarchs (19-17) take the field next for a Finals rematch with the Chicago Dogs Friday night at 6:30 p.m. from Impact Field in Rosemont, Illinois.

Gavin allowed seven runs over 2.2 innings of work before giving way to Julian Garcia, who surrendered four runs in 2.1 innings. Nate Tellier and A.J. Alexy each tossed a scoreless frame in relief for Kansas City.

Seven different Monarchs connected a hit, including Amaral’s run-scoring single in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT

Connor Curlis will start Friday’s game for the Monarchs against Chicago left-hander Matt Walker. Fans can watch the game on AABaseball.TV and listen at 810WHB.com/Monarchs.

Ninth-Inning Rally Not Enough For Monarchs

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A four-run rally in the ninth fell short for the Kansas City Monarchs Wednesday night.

Kansas City fell to the Kane County Cougars 9-4, leveling the series at a game apiece with a rubber game set for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. from Northwestern Medicine Field.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars and Monarchs celebrated the Negro Leagues Wednesday night, with both teams wearing Negro Leagues-style uniforms. The teams held a moment of silence during the game to honor the late Willie Mays.

Kane County starter Westin Muir kept the Monarchs (19-16) in check for the first seven innings. He allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six in his scoreless outing.

Monarchs starter Gabriel Ponce allowed six runs in 2.1 innings, walking four and hitting four batters. The Monarchs staff walked seven batters in the defeat.

The Cougars (21-15) scored four runs in the third inning, scoring in every inning they grabbed a bat except for the fifth and eighth.

Frankie Tostado brought in the Monarchs’ first two runs on a double in the ninth. Tostado went 2-for-4, his eighth straight multi-hit game. He leads the American Association with a .384 batting average.

Josh Bissonette hit a two-run single to make the game 9-4 before the first out was recorded in the ninth. Kansas City’s next three hitters were retired in order to end the game.

UP NEXT

Grant Gavin will start Thursday’s game for Kansas City. The Parkville native struck out 13 batters in his last outing against the Milwaukee Milkmen. Tommy Sommer will oppose him for Kane County.

Iser, Monarchs Erase 7-1 Deficit, Win In 10 Innings

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GENEVA, Ill. — The legend of Herbert Iser keeps growing for the Kansas City Monarchs.

The catcher, who has quickly transformed from relative unknown to All-Star contender, delivered two more clutch hits as Kansas City erased a 7-1 deficit to beat Kane County 9-8 in 10 innings from Northwestern Medicine Field.

Iser delivered a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh to cap off the Monarchs’ comeback and drove in the winning run with a single in the top of the 10th.

The win is the largest comeback victory for the Monarchs in 2024, against the first-place team in the American Association East.

“We could have just packed it up and said ‘It’s 7-1, whatever we’ll get ’em tomorrow,’ but we didn’t,” Iser said. “We grinded out at-bats, we made runs, and we won the game in the end.”

Kansas City’s bullpen combined to throw six innings, allowing just one run. Nate Tellier threw two perfect innings, handing the baton to Hunter McMahon for a scoreless seventh and eighth. Jackson McClelland threw the last two frames to earn the win.

Two two-out home runs fueled Kane County’s early lead. Armond Upshaw hit a three-run blast in the second, and Cornelius Randolph delivered a two-run shot in the fourth to put the Cougars up six.

The Monarchs pushed across two in the fifth, including an RBI single from Trent Giambrone.

Travis Swaggerty’s sacrifice fly scored Danny Amaral in the seventh to make it 7-4, and Frankie Tostado hit his own RBI single to cut the deficit to two.

That set the stage for Iser’s home run.

“I knew right off the bat [it was gone],” Iser said of his homer.

The homer came off form Monarch Jordan Martinson, whom Iser caught at Dallas Baptist University.

“I knew he was at least going to try to throw me one [slider], and I was sitting on one. I got a good piece of it.”

The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out bloop single from Todd Lott. After Iser’s single gave Kansas City a 9-8 lead in the top of the 10th, McClelland came back out for the bottom of the inning.

Jonah Davis drew a leadoff walk, and Claudio Finol laid down a bunt to allow Davis and bonus runner Trendon Craig to move into scoring position.

Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra intentionally walked catcher Simon Reid to load the bases, setting up a possible double play.

That’s exactly what happened. Ernny Ordonez hit a broken-bat grounder to short, and the 6-4-3 twin killing sealed the Monarchs’ victory.

UP NEXT

Kansas City and Kane County meet for their second of three games this Week Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. Gabriel Ponce will make his first start as a Monarch against Kane County’s Westin Muir. Fans can watch the game on AABaseball.tv and listen at 810WHB.com/Monarchs.

Monarchs’ Gavin Named League Pitcher Of The Week

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Grant Gavin’s latest run of success has earned him a special recognition.

The Kansas City Monarchs starting pitcher and Parkville, Missouri native has been named the American Association’s Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week for the week ending June 16.

The right-hander earned the honor for a superb outing on Friday at Milwaukee. He struck out 13 batters over seven scoreless innings, allowing no walks and only four hits, all singles.

“My mentality is I’ve got to attack hitters, and I’ve got to force them to make action,” Gavin said Friday after his start. “When I get on a roll and I can string some outs together, it gives me confidence.”

It was Gavin’s second 13-strikeout performance of the year, after another Monarchs victory on May 20 against Kane County.

Gavin credited Monarchs catcher Hayden Jones, who was calling pitches for both of those games.

“He’s done a really good job of adjusting to what I want to throw, and knowing the situations of what to call,” Gavin said. “I enjoy having him back there.”

Gavin is the first Monarch to earn a weekly honor from the Association this season.

The Monarchs are on the road this week. The team faces division-leading Kane County for a three-game series Tuesday through Thursday before squaring off with Chicago in a 2023 Finals rematch Friday through Sunday.

All Monarchs games are available to watch for free at AABaseball.TV.

The Monarchs’ next home game is Tuesday, June 25 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Six-Run Sixth Powers Monarchs To Series Win

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FRANKLIN, Wisc. — Sunday’s rubber game between the Kansas City Monarchs and Milwaukee Milkmen started out as a back-and-forth contest between two of the American Association’s top teams.

Then came the sixth inning.

Kansas City poured on six runs in the decisive sixth frame, pulling away for a series-clinching 11-6 victory from Franklin Field.

Frankie Tostado hit his fourth home run of the season for the Monarchs (18-15). Danny Amaral and Herbert Iser notched three-hit games. Julian Garcia threw 2.2 perfect innings to earn the win, striking out six consecutive batters.

The Monarchs are off Monday before starting a three-game series with Kane County on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Milwaukee (18-15) took the early lead in the second when Chase Estep hit a solo home run off Monarchs starter Jackson Goddard.

Kansas City tied the game in the third on an RBI single from Bryan Aguilar, but Jose Sermo answered with a solo shot in the bottom half to put the Milkmen ahead 2-1.

Tostado’s homer, a solo shot, tied things up in the fourth. The Monarchs plated two in the fifth on an Amaral RBI single and a wild pitch from Miwaukee starter Jhordany Mezquita.

Goddard allowed a game-tying two run double to Erik Ostberg in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at four. Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra brought Garcia in, who got the final two outs of the inning.

Goddard allowed four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings of work. He allowed eight hits and one walk while striking out five.

Josh Bissonette and Iser singled to begin the Monarchs’ sixth. Channy Ortiz laid down a bunt and Milkmen third baseman Armani Smith threw the ball away, allowing two runs to score and Ortiz to take third.

Travis Swaggerty brough in two more runs with a double to left center, and Tostado scored Swaggerty with an RBI single to make it 10-5 Kansas City and allow the Monarchs to coast the rest of the way.

UP NEXT

Kevin Milam will start Tuesday’s game for Kansas City. Fans can tune in on AABaseball.tv and 810WHB.com/Monarchs.

Tostado Keeps Raking, But Monarchs Blanked In Milwaukee

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FRANKLIN, Wisc. — Frankie Tostado hit two doubles and raised his league-leading batting average to .378, but the Kansas City Monarchs were shut out against the Milwaukee Milkmen 6-0 Saturday night at Franklin Field.

Kansas City (17-15) was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the contest. The Monarchs bullpen continuted to impress, throwing four innings without allowing a run.

The rubber game of the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN Kansas City 1510 AM and 94.5 FM and AABaseball.TV.

The Milkmen (18-14) took a 4-0 lead after three innings, pushing across four two-out RBI singles against Monarchs starter Connor Curlis. Curlis allowed six runs on 10 hits in four-plus innings of work, striking out one and walking three.

Tostado and Channy Ortiz both recorded two-hit nights for the Monarchs. Every player in the Milwaukee’s starting lineup notched at least one hit.

UP NEXT

Kansas City will send Jackson Goddard to the mound for Sunday’s series finale against Milwaukee’s Jhordany Mezquita.

Gavin Strikes Out 13, Monarchs Shut Out Milwaukee

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FRANKLIN, Wisc. — Grant Gavin arrived in Kansas City as a reliever. He’s become the Monarchs’ ace of staff.

The right-hander from Parkville, Missouri struck out 13 batters across seven scoreless innings, leading the Kansas City Monarchs to a 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Milkmen from Franklin Field.

BOX SCORE

Gavin allowed just four hits, all singles, without walking a batter in his second 13-strikeout game of the season.

“My mentality is I’ve got to attack hitters, and I’ve got to force them to make action,” Gavin said. “When I get on a roll and I can string some outs together, it gives me confidence.”

Nate Tellier threw two perfect innings in relief for Kansas City, striking out two batters of his own. The right-hander lowered his season ERA to 2.12.

“I talk to Nate about it all the time, he’s so valuable for this team,” Gavin said. “He just shoves it in the strike zone, and they’re not hitting him.”

Ross Adolph hit a solo home run, his second in as many games and team-leading ninth of the season.

The win opens up a nine-game, 10-day road trip for Kansas City against three of the top teams from the East Division. The Monarchs face off with Milwaukee again Saturday night at 6 p.m.

“It’s huge to start this road trip with a win, but we’ve got eight more,” Gavin said. “So let’s just take tomorrow and try to get another win.”

The Monarchs plated two in the second inning against Milkmen starter Greg Minier. Frankie Tostado led off the inning with a double and scored on a Josh Bissonette RBI triple. Bissonette came in on a grounder from Channy Ortiz to make it 2-0

Tostado finish the game 2-for-3, his fourth consecutive multi-hit effort. The first baseman improved his league-leading batting average to .374.

The Monarchs added two more in the fifth on a pair of sacrifice flies from Travis Swaggerty and Tostado. Minier allowed two hit batters and one walk in the frame.

The left-hander threw six innings, allowing four runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Adolph’s homer came in the 7th off Juan Echevarria, who tossed the final three innings for the Milkmen. Adolph raised his OPS to .956 with the homer, which brought the game to its final score.

UP NEXT

Lefty Connor Curlis will start Saturday night’s game for Kansas City against Milwaukee’s Sebastian Rodriguez. First pitch is at 6 p.m. on AABaseball.TV and 810WHB.com/Monarchs.

Monarchs’ Rutherford Heading To Mexico

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Blake Rutherford is taking the next step of his career.

The Kansas City Monarchs announced the former big league outfielder had his contract transferred to Toros de Tijuana on Friday afternoon.

“We’re really happy for Blake,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “It’s always great when our guys get opportunities. We’re excited as an organization, and that’s a huge part of what we do.”

Rutherford was spectacular for the Monarchs this season, ranking second on the team with a .328 batting average at the time of his departure along with an impressive .911 OPS.

The former first-round draft pick by the Yankees drove in 20 RBI in 17 appearances as a Monarch. He recorded 19 of those RBI in May, tied for third most of any AAPB player.

Rutherford also launched seven extra-base hits, including three home runs.

He made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2023. Rutherford was one of six players with major league service time to appear for Kansas City this season.

Toros de Tijuana is currently 27-24 in the 2024 Liga Mexicana de Beisbol season.

The Monarchs begin a nine-game road trip on Friday night against the Milwaukee Milkmen at 6:35 p.m. Their next home game is Tuesday, June 25 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.