MONARCHS MARCH CONTINUES IN WIN
The Kansas City Monarchs (56-34) won the final game of the four-game series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes (49-41) by a score of 7-4 Thursday night at Legends Field. It was the Monarchs 33rd win at home this season and their seventh against the Goldeyes in nine games.
With Matt Hall on the mound for the Monarchs and Jhon Vargas for the Goldeyes, both teams’ offenses fired up early. Winnipeg got on the board first as Raul Navarro’s single got the Goldeyes started. Ian Sagdal followed with another single, but the wild pitch to Max Murphy allowed the Goldeyes to score, starting the game with an early Winnipeg lead 1-0.
The Goldeyes’ lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Mallex Smith, Ryan Grotjohn, and Darnell Sweeny all got free passes, loading the bases off Vargas. Jacob Robson slammed a triple to left field, clearing the bases to take back the lead, 3-1. The Monarchs bats stayed hot as Jan Hernandez hit a single up the middle that brought in Robson, followed by a single from Gio Brusa and a double from Pete Kozma that scored both Jan Hernandez and Gio Brusa, bringing the lead to 6-1 at the end of the first inning.
The second inning remained quiet, but Winnipeg’s bats fired back up in the third. Reggie Pruitt Jr. started the inning off with a base hit, followed by another from Raul Navarro. A double by Ian Sagdal brought in Reggie Pruitt Jr, and a Max Murphy fielder’s choice scored Raul Navarro as the Goldeyes cut into the Monarchs lead, 6-3. The Goldeyes Ryan Blanton came in for Jhon Vargas and managed to hold the Monarchs scoreless in the bottom of the third.
The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings remained scoreless, but Winnipeg started to threaten in the top of the eighth as Max Murphy advanced to first on a hit-by-a-pitch by Jeremy Rhoades. David Washington followed with a walk; then Jacob Rhinesmith advanced to first on a single, bringing in Max Murphy and cutting into the Monarchs lead, 6-4.
In the home half of the eighth, Alexis Olmeda hit a solo home run bomb to right field off Tasker Strobel, and the Monarchs took the run right back.
Brandon Koch came in for the save in the ninth inning, striking out the side and ending the game with a 7-4 win for the Monarchs.
The Monarchs begin a three-game series tomorrow night (8/26) against the Sioux Falls Canaries at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.
Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.
WP: Matt Hall (9-2)
LP: Jhon Vargas (4-3)
S: Brandon Koch (5)
By: GMW Vaughan
