by Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs (48-31) bounced back with a 14-10 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs (37-43) Saturday night.
The Monarchs look for a series win against Lincoln Sunday for the first one since the last series in July against the Sioux Falls Canaries.
Kansas City struck first Saturday as Jacob Robson walked before David Thompson launched a ball to center field for a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Saltdogs responded in the top of the second as Wellington Dotel singled to right and Hunter Clanin got hit by a pitch.
Skyler Weber then sent one straight back center field, scoring Dotel. Randy Norris snuck one down the third base side line for a double, tying the game at 2-2.
Lincoln took the lead at 3-2 in the third as Rayder Ascanio singled to right field and eventually reached third by a passed ball. A sacrifice fly from Josh Altmann then brought in Ascanio.
Matt Adams launched a towering rocket to the home run hill, almost hitting the top of the clubhouse, for a two-run home run, bringing in Thompson who had singled, making the score 4-3 going into the fourth.
The home runs did not stop as Ascanio sent a two-run home run to the home run patio in left, bringing in Justin Byrd, who walked.
Jason Rogers sent a deja-vu home run to left for another two-run home run in the same inning as Ryan Long had a single to right, bringing the score to 7-4.
Casey Gillaspie doubled to right field before Ryan Grotjohn did the same. Kevin Santa then sent a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Grotjohn to run in from third, digging into the Saltdogs’ lead 7-6 going into the fifth.
Clanin doubled to left field before Luke Roskam pinch hit for Skyler Weber, sending a ball to deep right field for an RBI double, extending Lincoln’s lead to 8-6.
The bottom of the fifth proved a big one for the Monarchs with Sweeney being hit by a pitch and J.C. Escarra and Gillaspie both getting walked. Grotjohn doubled to right for two RBI before Kevin Santa singled to center allowing Kansas City to take the lead at 10-8.
Robson slid into home after being walked to first and advancing to second on a wild pitch. He reached third on a fly out and Adams singled to center, adding to their lead 11-8.
The Monarchs kept the runs coming in the seventh as the bases were loaded again. Gillaspie got walked, Grotjohn singled to center and Santa bunted before Thompson singled to left field for two RBI, extending the lead to 13-8 going into the eighth.
Gillaspie sent the only solo home run for the Monarchs to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth, growing the lead to14-8.
The Saltdogs didn’t go quietly though as Dotel singled to left field before Clanin launched a home run to the patio in left, but it wasn’t enough as they still trailed 14-10.
Kansas City starter Lewis Thorpe went 2 innings pitched with 3 hits, 2 runs and 1 strikeout, and Zach St. Pierre finished with 4 innings pitched, 7 hits, 6 runs and one strikeout.
The Monarchs face the Saltdogs in the last game of this series at 3 p.m. Sunday at Legends Field.
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 aa baseball.tv.
Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.