Monarchs Sweep RedHawks In Comeback Thriller

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FARGO, N.D. — The Kansas City Monarchs just keep winning.

A go-ahead three-run home run from Edwin Diaz in the ninth and a game-winning single from Johneshwy Fargas in the 10th helped Kansas City to a 6-5 victory at Newman Outdoor Field Thursday night.

Diaz’s blast turned a 4-2 disadvantage into a 5-4 lead. It helped the Monarchs erase a 4-0 deficit over the eighth and ninth innings.

The RedHawks rallied to tie it in the ninth, but Fargas’ single put Kansas City ahead for good.

The win secures a series sweep in a matchup of the top two teams in the American Association West. The Monarchs (21-9) have won seven in a row, 13 of their last 14, and are 20-4 excluding the first week of the year.

Kansas City is now in first place in the West by 2.5 games over Fargo-Moorhead in second.

The Monarchs got their hits in early in the game, but couldn’t quite cash in and fell behind 4-0 after five innings.

Correlle Prime hit a two-run home run to open the scoring in the fourth. A pair of two-out hits from Leo Piña and John Silviano made it 4-0 in the fifth.

Monarchs starter Brandon Finnegan had good stuff, throwing six solid innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out four.

Kansas City started their comeback in the eighth. LJ Hatch singled home Edwin Diaz with one out, and Fargas hit a sacrifice fly to score Micker Adolfo and make it 4-2.

Chris Herrmann and Jan Hernandez walked to begin the ninth, setting the table for Diaz. He delivered a moonshot out to left field, his third home run of the year.

The RedHawks tied the game with two outs in the ninth on an opposite-field double from John Silviano. Monarchs reliever Grant Gavin struck out Correlle Prime to strand the tying run on second base.

Fargas drove in bonus runner Justin Wylie to put Kansas City up 6-5 in the top of the 10th.

Miller Hogan came on to get the save for the Monarchs. He retired all three batters he faced, two via strikeout, to leave the tying run on base.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs travel to Chicago for a four-game series with the Dogs starting Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Their next home game is set for Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m.