Monarchs Muscle Back, But Drop Series Finale With Milkmen

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A hard-fought rally came up just short for the Kansas City Monarchs.

The Monarchs dropped their series finale with the Milwaukee Milkmen, 3-2, in 10 innings at Legends Field on Thursday night. Andy Blake’s go-ahead sacrifice fly gifted Milwaukee the game-clinching RBI.

John Nogowski willed the Monarchs back after facing an early deficit. The first baseman finished 3- for-4 with both RBIs in a losing effort.

The Milkmen (42-53) surged ahead with two early-inning RBI singles. Chase Estep opened the scoring in the top of the first, Alec Olund made it 2-0 in the top of the second.

Left-handed starter Julio Robaina rolled through Milwaukee’s strong start. The southpaw retired 10 of the final 12 batters that he faced to hold the Milkmen in check.

Robaina delivered five complete innings and surrendered just one earned run in his Monarchs debut. Nogowski took over from there to keep the Monarchs in it.

He smashed a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to left-center field, cropping Milwaukee’s lead to one. Nogowski lifted an RBI sac fly in the seventh inning to knot the contest at two.

Three Monarchs (56-40) relievers combined to keep the Milkmen bats quiet in the ninth inning.

Kansas City brought the go-ahead run to third base, but failed to bring in pinch-runner Yoyner Fajardo.

Blake’s sac fly off Hunter McMahon (2-2) proved to be just enough for the visitors. Jordan Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning to clinch a series sweep.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs begin their final regular season series against the Cleburne Railroaders. Kansas City hosts the Railroaders at Legends Field for four games; Friday and Saturday at 6:35 pm, Sunday and Monday at 1:05 pm.