SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Kansas City Monarchs’ outfield put on a show, but couldn’t quite pull out the win against the Sioux City Explorers.

Kansas City erased an early 8-1 deficit with an 11-run seventh inning, but a late grand slam from D’Shawn Knowles powered Sioux City to a 16-13 win Monday night from Lewis and Clark Park.

The result brings Kansas City (41-45) and Sioux City (41-45) into a tie for the final playoff spot in the American Association West Division. The teams will continue their five-game series with a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.

Isiah Gilliam went 3-for-6 with four RBIs for the Monarchs, including a solo home run in the sixth. The 420-foot blast was Gilliam’s fourth with the team in 19 games.

Monarchs outfielder Loranzo Cedrola had his own three-hit night, driving in four runs. Ross Adolph went 4-for-5 at the top of the Kansas City lineup, driving in four runs of his own.

Sioux City charged to a 7-1 lead after three innings, and took an 8-1 edge after four. Three Kansas City errors led to three unearned runs by Sioux City over that stretch.

Kansas City starter Collin Wiles threw 5.1 innings, allowing eight runs (five earned0 on 12 hits, walking none and striking out five.

Gilliam’s homer cut the deficit to six after six innings of play.

12 consecutive Monarchs hitters reached base in the seventh inning, including three bases-loaded walks that allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score. Cedrola and Adolph both had two-run hits in the inning.

Sioux City made it 13-10 before Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra relieved Gabriel Ponce and brought Jeff Hakanson into the game.

Hakanson allowed a two-run single to Daniel Lingua to make it a 1-run contest, and Knowles’ grand slam two batters later put the Explorers ahead for good.

UP NEXT

Matt Hall will start the opening game of Tuesday’s doubleheader for Kansas City against Sioux City’s Joey Murray. Hunter McMahon will pitch the second game for the Monarchs; Sioux City has not announced a starter for the nightcap.

By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Moisés Gómez showed what he was all about on Saturday night.

The newest Kansas City Monarch outfielder delivered a two-hit, three-RBI performance in a 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Milkmen at Legends Field. The former St. Louis Cardinals prospect finished 2-for-4 with a home run. 

Gómez started hot in the first inning. The cleanup batter lined an RBI single to first to plate Frankie Tostado, giving the Monarchs an early 1-0 lead.

Milwaukee (41-45) scored four unanswered to take a 4-1 advantage, but Gómez kept things going in his next plate appearance.

Gomez towered a two-run home run to left field to cut the lead to 4-3. He got to a Sebastian Rodriguez fastball for his first round-tripper as a Monarch (41-43).

He flashed his defense two innings later. Roy Morales ripped a line drive off the left-field wall, which took one hop straight to Gomez. He uncorked a cannon throw to second baseman Abiatal Avelino to catch Morales trying to stretch a double.

The Milkmen brought power of their own in the sixth inning. Chase Estep teed off for a 419-foot solo home run to right field, lifting the Milkmen to a 5-3 lead.

Milwaukee got one more in the sixth on an RBI single by leadoff batter Willie Escala to make it 6-3.

The Monarchs were held scoreless for the last six innings of the contest. Gómez recorded another stellar putout in the eighth inning to nab Jose Sermo at second base after a deep flyout in left field.

UP NEXT

Kansas City and Milwaukee close their season series Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. in a pivotal rubber game. Tickets are available at tickets.monarchsbaseball.com.

By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Chicago Dogs topped the Kansas City Monarchs in a back-and-forth marathon at Legends Field that featured three different lead changes.

Chicago edged out Kansas City in an 8-6 barnburner on Wednesday night. 

Three new Monarchs arrivals, Justin O’Conner, Isiah Gilliam, and Jhailyn Ortiz, posted multi-hit efforts in the losing effort.

O’Conner had his best night as a Kansas City Monarch. The third baseman lifted a two-run single to left field to give KC a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh.

O’Conner finished 3-for-4 on Wednesday night.

Chicago (44-39) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a Dusty Stroup two-run home run. The Monarchs counter punched with another two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth.

Gilliam took over in the fourth inning to plate three consecutive runs.

The former Triple-A bat teed off on an opposite field bomb to make it 4-3 Kansas City (40-41). The home run traveled 403 feet to left field for Gilliam’s third home run with the club.

Chicago bounced back with a three-run fourth inning. Outfielder Narciso Crook leveled a bases-clearing double to make it 6-4 Dogs.

Gilliam continued a stellar night with an RBI single to left-center field in the fifth inning. He finished 2-for-4 in game two.

Travis Swaggerty scored the tying run for the Monarchs later in the fifth inning off a Dogs’ wild pitch.

The Dogs yet again rebounded back in front to take a 7-6 lead. Jacob Teter lifted a deep sacrifice fly to center field to plate Nick Novak in the sixth inning.

Zack Leban kept the Monarchs’ chances at a comeback alive. The right-hander hurled a season-long 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Chicago tacked on one more run in the ninth to seal the series victory.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and Dogs close their series Thursday night at Legends Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., Kansas City’s starter is still to be announced.

By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A dominant pitching performance and a two-out rally in the ninth led the Kansas City Monarchs to a walk-off win. 

All-Star right-hander Julian Garcia tied his career-high with 10 strikeouts and the Monarchs walked it off after a throwing error by Lincoln Saltdogs shortstop Drew Devine Sunday afternoon at Legends Field.

The mistake lifted Kansas City (40-39) to a 2-1 win. The Monarchs secured a series victory and their sixth walk-off win of the season.

Third baseman Abiatal Avelino hit the bouncing ball to Devine after fouling off two two-strike pitches. The Lincoln shortstop’s underhand flip sailed over second baseman Dakota Conners to score Herbert Iser from second base.

“It was a good at-bat, he battled away,” Iser said. “It put pressure on the defense and it won us the game.”

Garcia was excellent in his ninth start of the season. The right-hander recorded two strikeouts in four of his innings and had a punchout in each of his six frames.

Kansas City’s staff combined for 12 strikeouts in the win.

“They were pounding the zone, throwing every pitch for a strike and competing,” Iser said. “That’s all you can ask for.”

The starter’s only mistake came just two batters in. Lincoln (30-51) first baseman Alex Baeza barreled a solo home run to right field to give the Saltdogs a 1-0 advantage.

Lincoln starter Foster Pace matched Garcia’s every move. The right-hander threw six shutout innings and added five strikeouts.

The Monarchs’ bats soared into action in the seventh. Kansas City started the inning with three straight strikeouts to tie the game.

Iser pulled a single into right field to score Trent Giambrone from second base. That tied the game at one.

“I got a good-looking changeup,” Iser said. “I was just fortunate that the infield was in so that it snuck through.”

Juan Nuñez dominated in his Kansas City Monarchs debut. The former Toronto Blue Jays prospect retired the first five batters that he faced in 1.2 scoreless innings.

Damon Jones and Jeff Hakanson (1-0) recorded the final four outs to get the game into the bottom of the ninth.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs begin a 2023 Miles Wolff Cup Finals rematch on Tuesday against the Chicago Dogs. First pitch is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Overland Park native and former major leaguer Collin Wiles will start for Kansas City.