MONARCHS SWEEP THE DOGS
The Kansas City Monarchs (20-7) indisputably planted their flag atop the American Association this series, grilling the East division’s first place Chicago Dogs (17-10) in this one, 9-2, to secure the sweep, their second in as many series. The teams entered the series each atop their respective divisions, but Kansas City dominated the Dogs in this showdown of American Association juggernauts, earning the win and the sweep behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Akeem Bostick (4-1) and some late-game mistakes from the Dogs.
The game began quietly, as the only scoring action in the first two innings came on a leadoff home run from Chicago’s Charlie Tilson to put the Dogs up early. The next few innings would remain uneventful, as three of the four half innings in the second and third would end up being 1-2-3 innings.
It wasn’t until the top of the fourth inning that the scoreboard would begin to light up. Behind a pair of Monarchs singles by Darnell Sweeney and Gaby Guerrero, Matt Adams would step up to the plate with one out in an RBI opportunity. He would take advantage by sending a sacrifice fly to right field to score Sweeney from third and help the Monarchs even the score at one before the end of the inning.
The Dogs would soon return the favor, however. In the bottom half of the inning, Monarchs starter Akeem Bostick would allow a leadoff walk to K.C. Hobson, who would then get moved to third by way of a Danny Mars triple. The Dogs would then strike just as the Monarchs did a half inning earlier, as Anfernee Grier would score Hobson with a sacrifice fly to regain the Chicago lead, 2-1.
The top of the fifth would yield some fireworks as well. The inning began with a single from Jan Hernandez, who would then steal second base. J.C. Escarra would come through with a single of his own to move Hernandez to third, leaving runners on first and third for the very hot hitting Kevin Santa. Santa would continue his hot streak with an RBI double to left field that would move Escarra to third base. Escarra would then get driven in by an RBI groundout from Willie Abreu, giving the Monarchs the lead once again with the score 3-2 Kansas City.
The next few innings would stay relatively quiet, as the Dogs were retired in order in the bottom half as one of many 1-2-3 innings that would occur from the bottom of the fifth to the eighth inning. Monarchs reliever Jordan Martinson would give Kansas City some momentum moving into the bottom of the eighth after he struck out the side in order in the top half. In the bottom half of the eighth, Darnell Sweeney would capitalize on this momentum by reaching base on a one out infield single, but would end up on second base after a throwing error, then on third after a wild pitch. Back-to-back walks would set up David Thompson with a bases loaded one out opportunity, with which he would draw an RBI walk and chase Dogs reliever Kevin Marmon from the game. Jan Hernandez became relief pitcher Paul Schwendel’s first batter of the game, which he promptly walked to make it back-to-back bases loaded walks for the Monarchs. Casey Gillaspie would finally have the big hit that made the Dogs pay for the walks, as he delivered with a big two-RBI double to break it open, giving the Monarchs a very comfortable 7-2 lead. Jan Hernandez would then score from third to cap off the big eighth inning for the Monarchs offense to make the score 8-2 Kansas City heading to the bottom half.
A 1-2-3 inning from Brandon Koch shut the Dogs down in the bottom half of the eighth inning, turning the inning over to the Monarchs offense one last time. Matt Adams stepped up to the plate in the top half of the ninth to make sure the Monarchs didn’t finally have a game with no home runs and sent a solo shot to right field to pad the lead even further, 9-2. The Monarchs’ Matt Blackham came out to toe the rubber in the top of the ninth and secured the sweep, which he did in five batters, giving the Monarchs the 9-2 win.
The Monarchs will take an off day tomorrow but then be back in action against the Sioux City Explorers on Tuesday (6/14) at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.
Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchsbaseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.
WP: Akeem Bostick (3-1)
LP: A.J. Kullman (2-3)
S: N/A
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