Monarchs Rally Late, but Unable to Complete Comeback

Sioux City, IA — A back-and-forth series came down to the rubber match on Sunday afternoon where the Monarchs fell to Sioux City, 8-6, despite putting up four runs late in the game.

The Explorers grabbed an early advantage in the first inning when Zac Vooletich lifted a sac fly to bring in Austin Davis to open up the game.

Kansas City took their first and only lead of the day in the fourth frame as JD Davis started the inning with a single. Just a batter later, Austin Callahan cranked a fly ball into right field and drove in Davis for an RBI triple. Saul Garza did his job with a sac fly to left and Callahan crossed home plate to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, Sioux City was connecting on every pitch as they earned five runs off of four homers. Henry George and Braulio Vasquez collected back-to-back home runs while Zane Denton nailed a two-run shot. To cap off the inning, Dillon Tatum belted a bomb to left field and KC found themselves down three runs in a hurry.

The Monarchs threw four pitchers out of the bullpen with Jimmy Endersby getting the start. Endersby delivered three strikeouts while Nate Webb and Tyler Myrick each threw one as well. The pitching staff combined for five K’s and will surely look to respond the rest of the road trip.

KC found their way back into the game with a pair of tallies in the sixth frame when Sahid Valenzuela was hit by a pitch and Trevor Boone walked. Hudson Head’s only hit of the night proved to be a big one when he smoked a triple into right field to bring home both runners. He now leads the league in triples and cut the deficit to 7-4.

This team kept inching their way back with a tally in the seventh and eighth inning. In the seventh frame, Ryan Leitch walked and Nick Martini grabbed an RBI double to score Leitch. It was Martini’s 15th RBI this season and has only appeared in 17 games. In the eighth, Head walked and Brady Lindsly lined a ball to right field as Head raced around the bases to cut it to a one run game.

Unfortunately, the Explorers muscled in a crucial run in the bottom half of the eighth and the Monarchs could not put it together in the ninth.

After a hard fought series, the Monarchs will cross the border for the first time this season to take on the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Monday night. First pitch is set for 6:30 at Blue Cross Park. The Monarchs are expected to throw right-hander Ryan Garcia (5-2, 2.67 ERA) while Winnipeg will send lefty Ryo Kohigashi (2-1, 3.13 ERA) to the mound.