The Monarchs and RailCats were nip and tuck all night, but it was a 12th inning RBI single for Phil Caufield that sent the Monarchs down in defeat 4-3 Tuesday night.
The hard luck loss spoiled a Dylan Baker (2-0) quality start for the Monarchs, who recorded seven strikeouts, scattered seven hits, and allowed only three runs in seven innings pitched.
Things got going for the Kansas City offense in the second inning, starting with a double by Gabby Guerrero.
With Guerrero in scoring position, Colin Willis got hot at the plate with an RBI single to give the Monarchs an early 1-0 lead. Alexis Olmeda singled that same inning in his debut for the Monarchs. He ended his debut two-for-four with two singles and a walk.
Baker also heated up in the second inning, striking out all three batters he faced before giving up back-to-back solo homers in the third inning, allowing the RailCats to gain a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Willis continued his success at the plate, hitting a solo home run to tie the game 2-2. The offense continued to take advantage in the seventh inning.
After back-to-back singles by Johnny Field and Jan Hernandez, Guerrero drove in Field with an RBI single to give the Monarchs a 3-2 lead.
The lead did not last long for Kansas City as Gary SouthShore tied the game, 3-3, with a sacrifice fly RBI. Baker ended his night by striking out his seventh batter.
The Monarchs had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning as Olmeda walked with two outs, bringing up Morgan McCullough to the plate. McCullough doubled while Olmeda tried to advance home all the way from first on the hit, only to get thrown out at the plate, ending the top half of the inning.
Jameson McGrane (0-1) replaced Baker to start the bottom half of the eighth and struck out two.
Carlos Diaz (2-0) came in to pitch in the ninth inning. With a runner on second and with one out, Diaz struck out back-to-back batters to force extra innings in Indiana.
Kansas City had another chance to take the go-ahead lead in the tenth inning with runners on first and second, but McCullough struck out, ending the top half and leaving runners stranded.
Cody Mincey entered the game in the bottom of the tenth and pitched two innings, striking out three.
Brian Ellington (0-1) then entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the twelfth. He gave up a single, hit a batter with a pitch, and gave up a walk-off double by Phil Caulfield. The RailCats took the win 4-3 in game one of the three-game series.
The Monarchs have now lost two in a row and fall to 7-10 on the season. Kansas City looks to bounce back Wednesday night against Gary SouthShore at 7:10 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:45 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.
On June 11, the Monarchs return to Legends Field to take on the Houston Apollos. Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.
- Story from Dan Vaughan, Kansas City Monarchs