Hudson Head the Difference, Kansas City Snatches Narrow Win Over Sioux City

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Kansas City, KS — A back-and-forth night at Legends Field, but the Monarchs found a way to grab a 5-4 win capped off by a Hudson Head homer in the eighth.

Just as they did yesterday, the Monarchs took an early lead, but this time it was in the second frame. Sahid Valenzuela led off with a double and then Hudson Head slapped a ball the opposite way to bring home Valenzuela.

Sioux City was scoreless in four-straight frames, but found a tally in the fifth. Alberto Osuna started the frame with a base hit, got all the way to third, and then was brought home on a sac-fly from Jackson Van De Brake.

Geison Urbaez made his 10th start on the bump and the former Blue Jays prospect went 6.2 innings with with five K’s and four runs given up. Emmanuel Chapman threw three punch outs while Tyler Myrick earned his eighth save on the mound.

In the bottom of the fifth, KC had an immediate response where Tyler Gentry singled with one out while Austin Callahan collected a base hit. This brought in Luken Baker who was right on cue with his 25th homer this season as he belted a three-run shot to left and KC retook the lead. This rally was started by Gentry who is currently on an incredible 19-game hitting streak. The former Tigers prospect said, “(I’m) just staying connected at contact, something I have been struggling with the last couple years. I have finally found a good drill and a good feel for it. When i’m doing that and keeping things simple, it usually goes well.”

Three of the four runs that Urbaez gave up came in the seventh frame as the Explorers would not go away. Yorman Rodriguez started the inning off with a double and with two down, Van De Brake sent him home on a liner up the middle. The lead was cut down to a pair of runs and then Zac Vooletich cranked a two-run homer to tie up the game. The momentum shifted and the Monarchs needed to regroup.

In the eighth inning, it was quiet and the Monarchs needed some life. With one down and facing an 0-2 count, Head slapped a ball 377 feet back into left field and that proved to be the difference as Kansas City went on to close out the game in the ninth.

With a Winnipeg loss, the Monarchs stand three games ahead of the Goldeyes and will start a four-game series with them tomorrow night. It’s the biggest series of the season with a 6:35 first pitch on Friday.