Month: June 2022

Monarchs trounce Dogs, 11-1

by Caleb Grizzle, Monarchs

Rosemont, Illinois — The Kansas City Monarchs (19-7) have been one of the hottest American Association baseball teams as of late, leading the league on the mound and at the plate as a team, winning nine of their last 10 games. This dominance continued into game two of three against the second best in the Association, Chicago Dogs (17-9) in their commanding 11-1 win Saturday night.

The best team in the American Association started the first frame with a two-out, solo blast from Gaby Guerrero to give the Monarchs an early, 1-0 lead.

Nick Belzer (2-2) received the start for the Monarchs and held the Dogs scoreless during his six innings pitched, only allowing two hits. The Dogs threatened in the first with a walk, a stolen base and a single but did not capitalize with a runner in scoring position.

The Monarchs continued to slowly add to their lead with a Jan Hernandez double to the right field corner with one out in the second inning.

Hernandez’s double set up Casey Gillaspie for his first of two RBI singles on the night. The Monarchs led 2-0 heading into the home half of the second.

The Dogs again were able to swipe a base after a single but were not able to steal a run.

Patience paid its dividends in the top of the third, as Darnell Sweeney battled in a 13-pitch at-bat to draw a two-out walk. Speedy Darnell Sweeney stole second, and following Guerrero’s walk, Matt Adams slapped an RBI single to left field against the shift.

The Monarchs closed the bottom of the third in nerve-racking fashion by putting the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs. Belzer retired the side and held the score at 3-0.

The Monarchs offense forced an early call to the bullpen to replace Dogs’ starter Johnathon Tripp with James Reeves.

Hernandez and Gillaspie teamed up again in the fourth inning to add to the Monarchs’ lead. Reeves was replaced in the fourth inning with Joe Cavallaro.

Hernandez started the inning with a double to right field and advanced to third after an error from the Dogs’ right fielder, Danny Mars. Gillaspie picked up his second RBI single to left field and brought Hernandez home to add to the lead. Hernandez contributed on defense in the bottom half of the inning, on a sliding catch on the right field line to assist Belzer in retiring the side.

The offenses stayed quiet on both sides in the fifth inning, as both teams were retired without recording a hit or any runners gaining scoring position.

Belzer brought his strong, scoreless outing to a close, retiring the Dogs in a one, two, three manner. Belzer finished with six innings pitched, no earned runs, three strikeouts, and two hits allowed.

Jordan Martinson replaced Belzer and shut down the Dogs in the seventh with a strikeout and diving stop at third from Thompson.

The Monarchs’ offense laid the knockout punch in the top of the eighth with a flurry of offense to add to their lead.

After a David Thompson single, Jan Hernandez got the ball rolling with a deep, two-run home run to center field to push the Monarchs lead to 6-0.

Casey Gillaspie’s walk provided Pete Kozma the opportunity he needed to pick up his first RBI of the night with a double.

Kozma’s double forced the Dogs to call on their sixth pitcher of the night, Tanner Shears. Shears was not able to prevent the Monarchs from adding one more. Kozma reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from J.C. Escarra. The Monarchs led 8-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Martinson was replaced by Matt Hartman to start the home half of the eighth and Hartman helped force a 4-6-3 double play to retire the side. In the final frame, the Monarchs piled on their lead with an RBI single from Matt Adams and a two-run home run from David Thompson.

Hartman allowed only one run in the ninth, striking out four batters in the ninth inning, following a dropped third strike to begin the inning. The Dogs were able to load the bases following a walk, single and a hit-by-pitch at bat.

Hartman closed the door with a strikeout to secure the 11-1 win for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs will play game three in Chicago at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 12. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 2:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.

  • Information from Monarchs

Heat advisory in effect today

Wyandotte County and surrounding areas are under a heat advisory today, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat advisory is in effect from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, the weather service said. The high today will be near 93 with a heat index near 105, according to the weather service.

Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors, according to the weather service. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Those who work or spend time outside should take extra precautions, the weather service said.


Strenuous activities should be rescheduled to the early or late parts of the day. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible, according to the weather service. Schedule frequent rest breaks in air-conditioned or shaded areas. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency and 911 can be called.

This afternoon, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 93, the weather service said. The heat index may be as high as 105. An east northeast wind of 7 to 10 mph will become southeast.

Tonight, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 78 and a south southeast wind of 10 mph, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98, the weather service said. The heat index will be as high as 105. A south southwest wind of 14 to 20 mph will gust as high as 32 mph.

Monday night, the low will be around 80 with a south wind of 14 to 20 mph, gusting as high as 30 mph, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 96 and a south southwest wind of 14 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 29 mph.

For more weather information, see www.weather.gov.

New England visits Sporting KC on Sunday

Sporting Kansas City (3-8-4, 13 points) will play host to reigning Supporters’ Shield holders New England Revolution 4-5-4, 16 points) at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

The cross-conference clash will be nationally televised on ABC and ESPN Deportes with local radio coverage airing on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.

Tickets are available online at SeatGeek.com.

A pre-match ceremony will feature the induction of Davy Arnaud into the Sporting Legends hall of honor.

Sunday’s match will also mark the return of the club’s annual Soccer For All theme match as Sporting Kansas City celebrates Pride Month by teaming up with the KC Pride Alliance for ongoing support of the LGBTQ community. Players will wear adidas Love Unites training tops and jersey numbers in the colors of the progressive flag. The national anthem will be sung by 2022 American Idol contestant Teddy B and the halftime show will be highlighted by a check presentation from match sponsor Tito’s Handmade Vodka to nonprofit organization Our Spot KC.

In anticipation of high temperatures, all ticket holders will be permitted to bring one bottle of water into Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday. The bottle must be sealed and no larger than 20 ounces, and the bottle’s cap will be removed at the gate upon entry.

A pair of MLS charter clubs, Sporting and New England return to action for the first time in two weeks as the teams meet for the first time since a 4-4 thriller at Children’s Mercy Park in April 2019.

Sporting leads the all-time regular season series with a 25-18-12 record and manager Peter Vermes’ side has gone 5-1-3 against New England at Children’s Mercy Park.

However, the Revolution leads the league with 19 road wins since the start of 2020. New England is the top scoring road team in Major League Soccer this season, averaging an MLS-best two goals per away match thanks in large part to 2021 MLS MVP Carles Gil. The Spanish playmaker led MLS in assists a year ago and once again leads the league with seven assists and 49 chances created in 2022.

Among all players and coaches in league history, Vermes and New England Revolution manager Bruce Arena have the most wins in MLS matches (regular season and postseason). Vermes, who won 99 matches as a player and 183 matches as a head coach in his MLS career, holds the narrow advantage over Arena, the winningest coach in MLS and USMNT history.

Arena’s resume boasts five MLS Cup titles, four MLS Coach of the Year honors and four Supporters’ Shield trophies after the Revolution finished atop the league table in 2021 with a record-setting 73 points in the regular season. Alongside Arena on the New England technical staff is Vermes’ predecessor Curt Onalfo, who served as head coach of the Kansas City Wizards from 2007 to 2009 and is now in his fourth season as the Revolution technical director.

New England arrives in Kansas City unbeaten in its past five MLS matches and amid a time of transition for two key players. Forward Adam Buksa, who scored in his last seven matches for the Revolution across all competitions, completed a transfer to French club RC Lens this week while goalkeeper Matt Turner is currently with the U.S. Men’s National Team ahead of his move to English Premier League side Arsenal FC later this month.

Djordje Petrovic, a 22-year-old Serbian international signed in April, is expected to make his MLS debut in net against a Sporting Kansas City squad that ranks last in the league in goals and will be missing four key attacking options on Sunday. Designated players Gadi Kinda and Alan Pulido are sidelined for the season with knee injuries, and wingers Daniel Salloi (Hungary) and Marinos Tzionis (Cyprus) are on international duty participating in the UEFA Nations League in Europe.

  • Story from Sporting KC