WHEELS FALL OFF LATE IN MILWAUKEE
The Kansas City Monarchs (37-19) had the lead for five and a half innings before the Milwaukee Milkmen (28-28) went on a tear in the seventh inning to complete the comeback win at home on Monday night.
After a scoreless first inning on both sides, the Monarchs broke the ice by manufacturing two runs in the second inning off of Milkmen starter, A.J. Jones. David Thompson got the ball rolling in the inning by working a walk. Following Thompson was a single by Casey Gillaspie that had the runners set at the corners with no one out. Willie Abreu did the RBI honors by singling to right field to score his former college teammate, David Thompson (1-0). Moments later, J.C. Escarra would rope a double on the first pitch he saw. The hit would score Gillaspie and stretch the lead to 2-0.
Keon Barnum, a Milwaukee star who did not play when the Milkmen played Kansas City back in June, would make up for lost time by sending his 15th homer of the season way over the outfield fence to close the gap (2-1).
The offenses kept producing with Kansas City adding two runs in the third inning. The American Association Home Run Derby champion David Thompson hammered a two-run home run to bump the Monarchs lead to three (4-1).
Jon Harris did a great job of retiring the Milkmen in order for the second time in the home half of the third inning to keep momentum on Kansas City’s side.
Both teams struck again in the fourth inning, with Milwaukee notching three runs after Kansas City scored one. It was none other than Keon Barnum who did the damage by going yard for the second time of the night, this time a three-run homer to bring his team within one (5-4).
The Milkmen made a pitching change after the first out in the fifth inning. The new pitcher, DJ Sharabi would be faced with a tough task as David Thompson stepped up to the plate. Thompson continued his success at the plate after collecting another RBI off of a single through the left side against Sharabi (6-4).
Jon Harris would finally exit the game in the sixth inning after a line of 5IP, 3H, 4R, 1BB, and 5K. Harris would hand the ball off to Jacob Lindgren who got his second appearance since returning to the active roster. Lindgren would retire the Milwaukee offense without surrendering a run in the sixth.
The seventh inning was when the Milkmen did some major damage by compiling eight runs off of seven hits, burning through three Monarchs pitchers in the inning (12-6). The most impressive parts of the inning were that the Milkmen scored all eight runs without a home run and sent 12 batters up to the plate.
Kansas City would answer but with just one run off of J.C. Escarra’s second hit of the evening (12-7). The single from J.C. allowed Gillaspie to cross home plate for the second time as well.
Frank Rubio finished the night out on the mound for Kansas City after entering the game at the end of the seventh.
Only one Monarch would reach base in their final chance at a comeback, but Rodrigo Benoit would finish strong and clinch the series-opening victory for Milwaukee.
The Monarchs will look to rebound in game two in their series with the Milwaukee Milkmen on Tuesday (7/19) evening at Franklin Field with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:05 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: Holmes (1-0)
LP: Gilliam (3-1)
S: N/A
By: JAXSON WEBB
