Monarchs Split Doubleheader with Goldeyes

Winnipeg, MB — For the first time this season, the Monarchs took a trip north of the border and opened their series with the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Blue Cross Park. After a postponed game due to rain, the teams played a doubleheader on Tuesday night and Kansas City split the set with the Monarchs winning game one, 12-0, and losing the second by a score of 11-3.

Game 1

KC came out swinging in the first seven-inning game with a dominant shutout win. They combined for 14 hits followed by a dozen runs to go with it. All Star, Austin Callahan opened up the second inning with a triple followed by an RBI single from Hudson Head. Trevor Boone collected his first hit of the night and Brady Lindsly brought in both runs with a double into left field. It was a quick three run advantage and the Monarchs wouldn’t look back.

Kansas City added four runs in the fourth to put the game to bed. Boone led off with a double and JD Davis ripped a line drive into right field to score Boone. The former Houston Astro had his best day as a Monarch with three RBI’s and runs. Saul Garza collected his only hit of the game and Callahan followed it up with a three-run homer to lift the Monarchs into a 7-0 advantage.

The only pitcher to toe the slab was right-hander Ryan Garcia. He went all seven frames and only gave up three hits the whole game. Garcia threw three strikeouts to earn his sixth win of the season which is tied for first on the team. It was another impressive outing from the California native.

In the sixth inning, the Monarchs posted another four-run frame. It started with a Davis double while Garza was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Boone cleared the bases when he crushed a ball into right field for his second double in the contest. Callahan, Davis, and Boone each tallied three hits and were responsible for nine of the 14 knocks. Kansas City added a run in the seventh on a solo shot from Davis. It was his first homer in a Monarchs uniform to cap off a blowout win.

Game 2

Kansas City would look to sweep the doubleheader and win the series, but Winnipeg had other ideas. The Monarchs picked up where they left off and produced three tallies in the first frame to take an early lead. Nick Martini singled and Garza reached on a fielder’s choice. This brought up the newly acquired and former St Louis Cardinal, Luken Baker, who officially made his presence known with a three-run bomb to left field. Unfortunately, this would be the only time the Monarchs would cross home plate in the second contest.

Winnipeg finally got the bats rolling as they put up a pair of runs in each of the first four of five frames. They scored all 11 hits and kickstarted the game with a triple from Ray-Patrick Didder. Ramon Bramasco reached base via error while Didder crossed home plate for the first Goldeye run of the night. Bramasco got all the way to third and was sent home on a fielder’s choice.

They took their first lead of the day in the second inning after a hit from Keshawn Lynch and an RBI single from TJ Schofield-Sam. It was the center fielder, Noah Marcelo who earned his first knock of the night with a ground ball up the middle to give the way for Schofield to score.

Jacob Gomez made his second start for KC and went 1.2 IP while allowing three hits and four runs. Jeff Hakanson came on in relief and led the bullpen with two strikeouts for the game. Former Padres product, Austin Krob, made his debut out of the pen and went two innings with a strikeout.

Just an inning later with the bases loaded, Schofield-Sam was at it again and produced a double that scored two more tallies to give Winnipeg a 6-3 advantage.

In the fifth frame and with runners on, Bramasco singled and Schofield-Sam scored. With runners at the corners, Marcelo reached base via fielders choice to score Patrick-Didder. It was an 8-3 lead.

There was relentless pressure from Winnipeg as they continued to pile on runs and posted three tallies in the sixth frame to even up the series. The rubber match will take place tomorrow night from Blue Cross Park to decide the winner of the series. Grant Gambrell (2-0, 1.64 ERA) is expected to make the start while Winnipeg will throw southpaw, Tasker Strobel (2-1, 6.35 ERA).