Mendez Impresses, Monarchs Fall to RailCats

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Leam Mendez spun a gem in relief, but it wasn’t enough for the Kansas City Monarchs. Kansas City couldn’t muster a comeback against the Gary SouthShore RailCats in a 7-3 loss at Legends Field.

Mendez dealt 2.1 scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out four consecutive batters in the seventh and eighth.

Former Kansas City Royal Jorge Bonifacio belted his second home run in as many days. Bonifacio launched a solo home run in the fourth inning, his sixth of the season.

The RailCats’ (12-33) power proved too much. Three sixth-inning solo home runs from Jake Guenther, Baron Radcliff and Jairus Richards off Monarchs starter Blake Goldsberry (2-1) muscled Gary SouthShore out of sight.

Goldsberry hurled 5.2 innings with a season-high seven strikeouts.

The Monarchs’ (27-17) bats started strong. Ross Adolph and Jaylyn Williams delivered back-to-back hits in the bottom of the first. John Nogowski lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0, Kansas City.

The RailCats punched back with a tying run in the second and a go-ahead 2-RBI single to make it 3-1 in the third.

Bonifacio’s homer cut the RailCats’ lead to 3-2. Josh Bissonette flared a double later in the inning to tie the game at 3.

The shortstop went 3-for-4 in the loss.

The Monarchs brought the tying run to the on-deck circle in the ninth.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and RailCats finish their four-game series on Monday afternoon. Josh Hendrickson takes the bump against Spencer Adams at 1:05 pm.