FARGO, N.D. — Travis Swaggerty went 4-for-4 with a game-tying home run, Duncan Snider threw 6.1 solid innings in his team debut, and the Kansas City Monarchs held off the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 5-3 for an important road victory at Newman Outdoor Field Saturday night.

The Monarchs (30-31) scored four unanswered runs over the final four innings, starting with Swaggerty’s homer in the sixth. The win gives Kansas City a two-games-to-one lead in the four-game series between the last two American Association champions.

Kansas City has won seven of their last nine games. They meet the RedHawks Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for both teams’ final game before the All-Star break. The 2024 American Association All-Star Game is Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

“I think guys are settling into their roles,” Swaggerty said of the Kansas City offense. “The guys have really been grinding out at-bats lately, and we’re hot right now.”

Snider, whom the Monarchs acquired Saturday in a trade with the Lake Country DockHounds, struck out four in a no-decision. He allowed three hits and one walk, needing just 73 pitches.

Monarchs shortstop Josh Bissonette went 2-for-4, including an RBI double to open the scoring in the second inning.

The RedHawks tied the game in the fourth on a solo home run from Drew Ward, his second homer in as many nights. Fargo-Moorhead took the lead when Marcus Chiu scored on a fifth-inning wild pitch.

Swaggerty’s solo shot in the sixth tied the game at two.

“That was definitely huge,” Swaggerty said. “I was trying to hit a fastball up the middle and the [pitcher] threw me a changeup. I was a little bit early, and I hit it out to right field. That’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Danny Amaral scored the go-ahead run in the eighth, creating it with his speed. The Monarchs’ leading base stealer swiped second and third in the inning before scoring on a Ross Adolph sacrifice fly.

Nate Tellier got the win for Kansas City, throwing 1.2 innings in the seventh and eighth with no hits or walks allowed.

The Monarchs added two insurance runs in the ninth, with one coming in on a bunt single from Chavez Young.

Fargo-Moorhead put a two-out rally together in the ninth, making it 5-3 on a Chiu RBI single. But Jackson McClelland struck out Kona Quiggle to earn the save.

“It’s a good thing, with how the season started, for us to be hot going into the break, get some recovery time, and then stay hot after the break and make a push at this thing,” Swaggerty said. “I think we’re clicking at the right time.”

UP NEXT

Kansas City will go for the series win Sunday at 1 p.m. Jackson Goddard will start for the Monarchs against Fargo-Moorhead’s Colby Kiser. Fans can listen to the game on ESPN Kansas City 1510 AM and 94.5 FM.

FARGO, N.D. — The Kansas City Monarchs survived a wild final inning to claim a crucial doubleheader split over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks from Newman Outdoor Field Friday night.

Kansas City rebounded from a 6-0 loss in Game 1 to win the nightcap 5-4 in eight innings, one beyond the regulation seven for doubleheader games.

The Monarchs rallied to tie the second game on three separate occasions before Herbert Iser’s RBI single in the top of the eighth.

Fargo-Moorhead shortstop Sam Dexter hit a ball over the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth. The umpires ruled it a foul ball after a conference shortly after the play ended while the RedHawks were celebrating on the field.

Gabriel Ponce and Zach Leban combined to throw six relief innings without allowing an earned run. Ponce struck out six in four innings of work.

“I’ve been working on stuff in practice, minor stuff with my mechanics that’s been helping me,” Ponce said. “Just having more life on my pitches.”

Leban got the final six outs of the game to earn the win.

RedHawks starter Tyler Grauer shined in Game 1, throwing a seven-inning one-hitter. Drew Ward homered in the first inning and Fargo-Moorhead added four unearned runs in the sixth to pull away.

Monarchs Game 1 starter Julian Garcia went the distance himself, allowing just two earned runs in six innings.

UP NEXT

Kansas City and Fargo-Moorhead meet again Saturday at 6 p.m. Kansas City’s starter has not yet been announced. Colten Davis will get the ball for the RedHawks. Monarchs fans can watch every live game for free at AABaseball.TV.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Get ready to see baseballs fly out of Legends Field!

The American Association has announced the 10-hitter lineup for the 2024 Jeremiah Johnson Home Run Challenge in Kansas City this coming Monday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Get tickets for the Jeremiah Johnson Home Run Challenge here.

The 10-player lineup features the league’s four leading home run hitters in 2024 as well as seven of the top eight.

Fans can get tickets and more information on the Home Run Challenge at MonarchsBaseball.com/AllStarGame.

The Home Run Derby will be followed by the Renewal By Andersen Celebrity Softball Classic.

The full list of participants is below:

Trevor Achenbach (Sioux Falls Canaries)
Hill Alexander (Cleburne Railroaders)
Narciso Crook (Chicaco Dogs)
Rob Emery (Winnipeg Goldeyes)
Claudio Finol (Kane County Cougars)
Jaxx Groshans (Cleburne Railroaders)
Ryan Hernandez (Lake Country DockHounds)
Brian O’Grady (Cleburne Railroaders)
Josh Rehwaldt (Sioux Falls Canaries)
Jacob Teter (Chicago Dogs)

The rules of the competition are as follows:

First round
– The 10 hitters will bat in a random order
– All 10 will get 3 minutes to hit as many home runs as possible.
– Each hitter will get one 30-second timeout.
– The top four hitters will move on to the second round.

Second round
– Bracket style. The top home run hitter from the first round will face the No. 4 hitter, with No. 2 facing No. 3. Lower seeded hitters will bat first.
– Rules are the same as the first round: 3 minutes to hit as many homers as possible with one 30-second time out.
– The winners of each matchup advance to the final.

The Final
– Both finalists will get two minutes to hit as many home runs as possible, with one 30-second timeout.

Tiebreakers
– Tiebreakers are the same for all rounds.
– In event of ties, competitors will get 1:00 minute to hit as many HRs as possible
– If still tied, the event will go to a swing-off (alternating at bats)

Get tickets for the Jeremiah Johnson Home Run Challenge here.

By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A former major leaguer came through in the biggest moment for the Kansas City Monarchs.

Travis Swaggerty delivered a walk-off single in the second game of a doubleheader, securing a 3-2 victory in 10 innings over the Lincoln Saltdogs from Legends Field. 

“I was looking for something up that I could drive into the outfield,” Swaggerty said. “I was looking for something to barrel, fortunately, I did.”

The win split the doubleheader after Lincoln won the first game 4-1. Every run in the doubleheader was scored in extra innings. 

Swaggerty’s game-winner in the 10th sent the Legends Field faithful home happy.

“The fan support has been incredible,” Swaggerty said. “We’re lucky to have fans like this.”

The Monarchs have collected four walk-off wins this season.

GAME 1: Lincoln, 4-1 (8)

Starting pitcher Jackson Goddard cruised early in the opener. The right-hander needed just 18 pitches to set down the first six outs en route to his best start of the season.

Goddard recorded five scoreless innings for the first time this season and allowed just two hits.

Both teams struggled to break through. Goddard and Lincoln starter Karan Patel were brilliant with runners in scoring position. 

Lincoln and Kansas City (27-30) combined to leave 12 runners on base against the respective starters. Patel matched Goddard with five shutout frames.

Kansas City left seven on base in the regulation innings. Lincoln took the lead off a deflected RBI double by Spencer Henson in the eighth inning.

Alex Baeza’s three-run home run shortly after lifted the Saltdogs (21-40) to the win.

Trent Giambrone started the eighth inning rally, delivering an RBI single to left field. Giambrone drove in an RBI in each of the two games of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Monarchs Manager Joe Calfapietra argued the final call of the game. Swaggerty was called out at first base with runners at second and third after nearly legging out an infield single.

GAME 2: Kansas City, 3-2 (10)

Giambrone and Swaggerty came up with the big hits in the nightcap. The former major leaguers combined to drive in all three Monarchs runs in the win.

Swaggerty’s sharp line drive clinched a fourth win in five games for Kansas City.

“It’s huge to get hot going into the break,” Swaggerty said. “The pitchers kept us in the games, it was really huge to get that last win.”

Kevin Milam kept the theme of strong pitching rolling, breezing through four scoreless innings. 

Lincoln threatened in the fifth, but the right-hander stood strong. Milam picked up his third strikeout before a pair of fly balls to Danny Amaral wrapped up the action.

Relievers Damon Jones and Jonathan Sprinkle each excelled in long innings. The two combined for five strikeouts in four innings, giving up just one earned run.

The Monarchs responded to a Saltdogs’ two-run eighth with two of his own. Swaggerty tied the game with one out in the eighth inning, piecing a single to right-center field.

Former Kansas Jayhawk Zack Leban delivered a crucial 10th inning. The right-hander delivered two strikeouts to record his second win of the season.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and Saltdogs close their series with a rubber match on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m.. Kansas City, Missouri native Hunter McMahon gets the ball for the Monarchs against Foster Pace. Tickets are available at tickets.monarchsbaseball.com.

“

By Cal Friedman

LINCOLN, Neb. – Sunday afternoon was a true five-tool performance from the Kansas City Monarchs.

Contact, power, speed, fielding, throwing: It was all there for the Monarchs early. KC jumped out to a 10-0 lead to fend off a spirited Lincoln Saltdogs comeback at Haymarket Park. Kansas City (26-29) recorded its second road series sweep of the season with a 10-7 victory.

Michael Watson (1-1) earned his first professional win with an elite performance. The 22-year-old hurled five scoreless innings, striking out six.

HOME RUN FRANKIE TOSTADO!!! The sticks are HOT and the Monarchs go up by double-digits! 💥💥💥💥

👑 10 | 🐶 0 | 🔼5️⃣ pic.twitter.com/21lwWC5WBj

— Kansas City Monarchs (@kscitymonarchs) July 14, 2024

Speed killed early for Kansas City.  A double steal brought new Monarch Chavez Young to score from third in the first inning.

Channy Ortiz showed power one inning later. The 25-year-old recorded his first Kansas City home run to right-center field, a three-run blast to put the Monarchs ahead 4-0.

The Monarchs’ defense came into play in the third inning. Danny Amaral made one of the best plays of the season, leaping into foul ground to steal an RBI away from Lincoln’s (20-39) Spencer Henson.

Precise contact helped lift the Monarchs to an eight-run advantage. Young pulled a double down the first-base line, Amaral lifted a single to left-center.

Young delivered another great performance.​​ The former Triple-A standout finished with two hits on Sunday and five knocks in his first AAPB series.

Tostado flexed the muscle again, launching a 412-foot home run for his sixth bomb of the year. The All-Star starter lifted the Monarchs to a 10-run advantage in the sixth.

Gabriel Ponce’s (1) arm finished the game off for Kansas City with his first save of the season. The right-hander recorded the final four outs to stop the Saltdogs’ comeback.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and Saltdogs continue their season series at Legends Field on Tuesday. First pitch on Youth Camp Day is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Tickets are available at tickets.monarchsbaseball.com.