SECOND CYCLE FOR JAN HERNANDEZ
In the 18-10 Kansas City Monarchs (36-18) win over the Lake Country DockHounds (19-36), Jan Hernandez completes his second cycle of the season with a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Monarchs wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Chad De La Guerra singled to right field before Jan Hernandez and Casey Gillaspie each produced an RBI double, the score 2-0 going into the second.
The DockHounds quickly responded with back-to-back doubles from Jake Snider and Wilfredo Gimenez to cut into the Monarchs lead at 2-1.
In the bottom of the second inning, Pete Kozma hit the Monarchs first inside-the-park home run since 2017. Kozma launched a ball to right-center field that DockHounds center fielder Jake Snider tried to play on a diving attempt, but he would come up short. The ball then would roll all the way to the wall with Kozma rounding the bases for his first home run of the year and the first for the franchise since May 30, 2017. J.C. Escarra then sent a rocket to the Monarchs bullpen in center field for his own home run, extending the lead to 4-1. De La Guerra started the night two-for-two with another single to right field before Hernandez was walked to first base. David Thompson with a base hit to left brought in De La Guerra, the score 5-1.
The DockHounds started the third with back-to-back walks of Zion Pettigrew and Lamar Briggs. They both stole third and second respectively before Tristen Carranza sent a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Pettigrew, and Gabriel Noriega sent a triple to right-center to bring in Briggs. TJ Bennet gave Lake Country one more RBI in the inning with a base hit single for a 5-4 score.
Kevin Santa landed a single in right field before rounding second on a wild pitch and a fly-out from Willie Abreu got him to third. J.C. singled to left field for an RBI and Darnell Sweeney sent the second homer to center field to double, the Monarchs led 8-4.
Gimenez singled to right field to start the fourth inning before Daikan Yoh doubled to left with runners at third and second base. A putout from Briggs brought in Gimenez and gave the DockHounds a third straight inning with an run at 8-5.
Casey Gillaspie was walked before Kevin Santa reached base for the first time with a single to left field. After a pitching change from the DockHounds, Kozma was walked before Willie Abreu singled to center field for two RBI, doubling the Monarchs lead again at 10-5.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sweeney singled to left before Hernandez tripled to deep right-center field to drive in another run. A Thompson sac-fly brought in Hernandez, extending the Kansas City lead to 12-5.
In the bottom of the sixth Santa hit the home run patio wall in left field for a double before Will Abreu singled to left. A sac-fly in right from Escarra brought in Santa, the score 13-5 going into the seventh.
Jacob Lindgren took the mound for the Monarchs in the seventh and loaded the bases with Carranza and Bennett both being hit by pitch, and Noriega was walked. Gio Brusa hit one out to the home run patio for a grand slam, digging into the Monarchs lead with a 13-9 score. Lake Country added one more run as a Gimenez double brought in Snider who reached on a single, the score 13-10 after the stretch.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hernandez singled to left field and Gillaspie brought him in with a two-run home run to the patio, giving Kansas City a buffer again at 15-10.
In the bottom of the eighth, Escarra singled to center field and ended up on second on a wild pitch. Sweeney’s base-hit single landed in left before Hernandez barely snuck a home run into fair territory for three more RBI, completing his cycle, bringing the final score to 18-10.
Monarchs starter Matt Hartman finished his outing at 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R and 5 strikeouts. Brock Gilliam stood on the mound for the fifth and sixth innings, striking out all three batters in the fifth to pick up the relief win.
The Monarchs will finish the series against the DockHounds tomorrow night (7/16). The game will begin at 6:00 p.m. and can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.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 monarchs baseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.
WP: Gilliam (3-0)
LP: Jimenez (3-5)
S: N/A
BY: KAITLYN SANDERS
