Monarchs Start Fast and Finish Strong, Take Opening Game in Fargo

Fargo, ND — In a game that was delayed for an hour, it certainly lived up to the hype as Kansas City and Fargo went toe-to-toe for nine frames, but the Monarchs were able to snatch a 6-4 win in the first game of the West Division Championship series.

KC started red hot when on the fourth pitch of the game, Tyler Gentry sliced a double into right center. Shortly after, Luken Baker drove a ball up the middle to bring home Gentry for the first run. The Monarchs collected their third double of the inning on a Saul Garza line drive while Baker raced home from second

Tyler Gentry was on fire at the plate tonight as he continued to have an impact with a triple to start the third inning. Austin Callahan did his job as he pushed a sac fly to bring home Gentry. It became a 3-0 lead.

Former Washington National, Thaddeus Ward, made his fourth start on the bump tonight and dealt a season-high seven punchouts while surrendering three runs in five innings. Jack Walker and Emmanuel Chapman combined for three K’s in three frames and Durbin Feltman recorded his eighth save as Monarch.

For a team that was second in the association in runs, the Redhawks were held scoreless for five-straight frames before they made their mark in the sixth. Eric Filia led off with a base-hit and then Jose Sermo roped a ball down the right field line to put two runners in scoring position. Tripp Clark walked and the bases were loaded with Dillon Thomas at the plate. Walker replaced Ward on the bump and on the third pitch that was thrown, Thomas blasted a grand slam into right field to give Fargo the first lead of the night. It was a 4-3 ballgame and the Monarchs had work to do.

One of the biggest moments of the game happened in the top of the seventh. Sahid Valenzuela hooked a ball near the third base line and Filia came over to make the catch, but collided with shortstop Aiden Byrne and the ball went out of his glove which was ruled a fair ball. What seemed like a routine flyout quickly became a triple for Valenzuela. This allowed Hudson Head to drive an RBI ground out and bring home Valenzuela to tie up the game at four apiece.

In the eighth inning and just what you needed him most, he arrived. Baker saw the 1-1 delivery and smoked a solo homer over the left field fence to put Kansas City in front.

The Monarchs finished off this game with a tally in each of the final three frames as they scored their sixth run of the night in the ninth. Grant Richardson led off the frame with a walk and was pushed to second on a Valenzuela sac-bunt. After Head popped out, Jose Torres walked. With runners at the corners, Gentry added an insurance run with a driven ball up the middle to bring home Richardson.

This game was far from over as the Redhawks would not go away so easily. Juan Fernandez and Filia both drew a walk and Feltman really had to settle in. He retired three-consecutive batters including two punch outs to finish out the game.

It was a huge victory for Kansas City to steal Game 1 on the road. If they can find a way to win tomorrow, there will be an opportunity to close it out at home on Thursday. Fargo will not go away so easily as Game 2 is scheduled for 6:35 tomorrow night at Newman Outdoor Field.