by Gabriel Lopez, Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs (10-6) beat the Sioux Falls Canaries (5-11) in commanding fashion on Sunday afternoon, 14-8.
On Jazz in the Park and Sunday Funday at Legends Field, the Monarchs’ red-hot offense continued their hitting parade.
They collected 16 hits with four home runs in the game. During the three-game series, the Monarchs collected 11 home runs, 51 hits and 51 runs in 27 innings of baseball.
The Canaries wasted no time as Trey Michalczewski hit a high fly ball down the left field line. Gaby Guerrero almost made the play, but the ball fell as Osvaldo Martinez and Jabari Henry scored, giving the Canaries a 2-0 lead.
The Monarchs responded right away. Willie Abreu and Guerrero both singled. David Thompson stepped up to the plate and hit a towering fly ball that dropped on the infield, scoring Abreu.
Jan Hernandez drove a three-run blast into the visitors’ bullpen, giving the Monarchs a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Kona Quiggle hit a solo home run to bring the Canaries within one.
Then Matt Adams decided to get in on the action as he drove a two-run home run to right field, giving the Monarchs a 6-3 lead.
The Monarchs collected three more runs with Guerrero and Adams collecting RBIs. After four innings of baseball, the Monarchs led 9-3.
The Monarchs tacked on one more run as Pete Kozma followed Hernandez’ double with one of his own, scoring Hernandez and giving the Monarchs a 10-3 lead entering the sixth inning.
The Canaries’ offense woke up as Gavin LaValley and Trey Michalczewski knocked back-to-back singles. After Cole Pengilly worked a walk, Shamoy Christopher hit a bases-clearing double to bring the Canaries within four runs, 10-6.
The Monarchs continued to respond, adding more insurance runs in the sixth inning as Guerrero and Thompson drove in a run each.
Hernandez capped off the inning with a solo shot to left field, giving him his third home run in the past two games. The Monarchs headed into the seventh leading 13-6.
After Matt Blackham retired three Canaries in order, Willie Abreu hit a solo home run to left field to give the Monarchs a 14-6 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The Canaries brought two more runs across in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as Jameson McGrane retired Trey Michalczewski to end the game.
The Monarchs will continue their homestand with game one against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7 p.m. Monday, May 30. 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 Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.