Category: Kansas City Monarchs

by Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs

Sioux City, Iowa — The Kansas City Monarchs (20-9) lost their second straight game against the Sioux City Explorers (13-15) with a walk-off game-winning RBI courtesy of Blake Tiberi in the 10th inning.

It looked like it might be the Monarchs’ night when Kansas City got the scoring going early in the first inning. Darnell Sweeney and Kevin Santa both reached on base hits and both came home to score on a pair of RBI singles from Matt Adams and David Thompson to take a 2-0 lead.

Sioux City answered quickly with an RBI single of its own from Ademar Rifaela in the bottom first. Chase Harris hit a single to left field, and Nick Franklin was walked before Rifaela brought in Harris with a single to right field, putting one run on the board at 2-1.

The Monarchs kept the scoring going in back-to-back innings with a solo home run from Casey Gillaspie off Sioux City starter Tyler Beardsley in the top second, making the score 3-1.

The Explorers tied it in the third at three each with a two-run home run from Rifaela off Jon Harris.

Kansas City was quiet for two innings, but Adams reached base with a single to right field before Gillaspie hit a double to deep left-center to bring in Adams and to take back the lead at 4-3 going into the bottom of the sixth.

Neither starter figured in the decision. Monarchs’ starting pitcher Jon Harris went 5.2 innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts while Explorers’ starter Tyler Beardsley went six innings, giving up nine hits and four earned runs.

In the seventh, J.C. Escarra walked to lead off the inning before Darnell Sweeney doubled to left field. Kevin Santa drove in a pair of runs with a single to center, doubling the Monarchs lead at 6-3.

The Explorers were not going to go quietly as they added a run to the board in the bottom of the eighth. Nate Samson and Gabe Snyder both were walked by Monarchs pitcher Brandon Koch before Blake Tiberi delivered a base-hit single, bringing in Samson and cutting into the lead at 6-4.

A pitching change to Jameson McGrane with two outs didn’t deter Chase Harris as he delivered a game-tying two-RBI single as Snyder and Tiberi rounded the bases to tie the game at six.

In the top of the ninth, Joel Booker ran for Escarra who walked to start the inning. He then stole second base before advancing to third on a fielders choice. Gaby Guerrero reached first base on a walk, but the Monarchs left the two men stranded in scoring position when Matt Adams grounded into a fielders choice.

The game nearly did not go extra innings as the Monarchs escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the bottom of the ninth. Jameson McGrane hit Nick Franklin to start the inning before Rifaela and Samson both walked. With one out, the Monarchs got two outs on a line drive to right by Trey Martin and a throw home from Guerrero to double Franklin.

In the top of the 10th the Monarchs loaded the bases with two outs but could not score. Closer Thomas McIlraith got Alexis Olmeda to fly out to left to end the inning. The X’s then got the walk-off RBI double from Blake Tiberi off Matt Blackham to win the game 7-6.

The Monarchs will play game three in Sioux City at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, June 16. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:35 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.

by Caleb Grizzle, Monarchs

Sioux City, Iowa — The Kansas City Monarchs (20-8) had their six-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night.

The Sioux City Explorers (12-15) had the Monarchs’ offense lost for most of the night, defeating Kansas City 6-4, in game one of the three-game series.

The Monarchs’ offense started slow in Sioux City as the Explorers discovered the scoreboard first and never looked back.

In the first inning, the Monarchs did not make much noise in the top half but the Explorers struck first with a sacrifice fly to center field by Trey Martin. Martin’s RBI was made possible by a walk drawn by Chase Harris and a well executed hit and run from Nick Franklin. With runners on first and third, Trey Martin drove the ball to center field in the air to bring home Harris. The Explorers led the Monarchs 1-0 after one inning played.

The Monarchs quickly answered in the second following a one-out, triple from Jan Hernandez. Casey Gillaspie picked up an RBI single to right field and tied the game, 1-1. The Monarchs were not able to steal the lead back and went quietly the rest of the frame.

In the home half of the second, the Explorers distanced themselves once more from the Monarchs with back-to-back singles, followed by a three-run blast, by John Anthon. Lewis Thorpe was able to settle in on the mound and retire the next three batters he faced.

Kansas City was retired in one, two, three fashion by Kevin McCanna in the top of the third inning. McCanna went on to strike out seven in six innings of work, surrendering only five hits and two runs.

The Explorers again added to their lead in the bottom of the third. After a single from Nate Samson, Sioux City utilized an error from Jan Hernandez and another single to set up runners at first and third base with no outs. Ademar Rifaela grounded into a fielder’s choice RBI double play to pick up an RBI. The Explorers finished the third inning leading 5-1.

In the fourth inning, both offenses went scoreless with only one hit combined between the two teams during the frame. Sioux City continued to add to their lead and shut down Kansas City’s offense in the fifth. The Monarchs were retired in a one, two, three order with a strike out by McCanna in the inning. The Explorers pushed their lead to 6-1 by starting the inning with a Trey Martin single. Martin advanced to second on an unassisted putout by Casey Gillaspie. Gabe Snyder capitalized with a runner in scoring position with an RBI double.

The Monarchs began their comeback efforts in the sixth frame. Darnell Sweeney began the inning with a patient walk and reached third on a single from Gaby Guerrero. With runners at first and third with no outs the Monarchs were only able to bring home one run with a single from Jan Hernandez. The Monarchs trailed by only four runs after six innings as Jacob Lindgren entered from the bullpen to retire the side in the home half.

In the seventh, the Monarchs mustered two more runs in their pursuit of the Explorers. Sioux City called upon their bullpen and brought in Max Kuhns to face the bottom of the Monarchs’ lineup.

Kansas City took advantage of the fresh arm on the mound with a Pete Kozma single to right field to set up J.C. Escarra at the plate. Escarra stepped up with a towering blast to right field to cut the deficit to 6-4. With the bases cleared, Kuhns settled down and retired the rest of the batters he faced.

Lindgren controlled the bottom of the seventh with a scoreless inning, only allowing one hit, and producing another strikeout.

The eighth inning was filled with pitching changes. Sioux City brought in Tyler Koch to face Matt Adams. After Adams walked on five pitches, Koch was replaced by Brandon Brosher. Brosher threw the Monarchs off the scent of the comeback trail, snuffing out their building momentum, by retiring all three batters he faced. The Monarchs brought in Jameson McGrane in the bottom of the eighth to hold the Explorers scoreless.

In the top of the ninth, Thomas Mcllraith replaced Brosher on the mound for the Explorers to shut down any final hope Kansas City had in extending their winning streak to seven games.

The Monarchs will play game two of a three game series in Sioux City at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:35 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.

by Adam Cook, Monarchs

Rosemont, Ill. — The Kansas City Monarchs (20-7) indisputably planted their flag atop the American Association this past week.

The Monarchs grilled the East division’s first place Chicago Dogs (17-10) in a Sunday contest, 9-2, to secure a sweep, their second in as many series.

The teams entered the series each atop their divisions, but Kansas City dominated the Dogs in this showdown of American Association juggernauts, earning the win and the sweep behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Akeem Bostick (4-1) and some late-game mistakes from the Dogs.

The game began quietly, as the only scoring action in the first two innings came on a leadoff home run from Chicago’s Charlie Tilson to put the Dogs up early. The next few innings were uneventful, as three of the four half-innings in the second and third ended as 1-2-3 innings.

It wasn’t until the top of the fourth inning that the scoreboard began to light up. Behind a pair of Monarchs singles by Darnell Sweeney and Gaby Guerrero, Matt Adams stepped to the plate with one out in an RBI opportunity. He took advantage by sending a sacrifice fly to right field to score Sweeney from third and help the Monarchs even the score at one before the end of the inning.

The Dogs soon returned the favor, however. In the bottom half of the inning, Monarchs starter Akeem Bostick allowed a leadoff walk to K.C. Hobson, who then got moved to third by way of a Danny Mars triple. The Dogs then struck just as the Monarchs did a half inning earlier, as Anfernee Grier scored Hobson with a sacrifice fly to regain the Chicago lead, 2-1.

The top of the fifth yielded some fireworks as well. The inning began with a single from Jan Hernandez, who then stole second base. J.C. Escarra came through with a single of his own to move Hernandez to third, leaving runners on first and third for the very hot hitting Kevin Santa.

Santa continued his hot streak with an RBI double to left field that moved Escarra to third base. Escarra was then driven in by an RBI groundout from Willie Abreu, giving the Monarchs the lead once again with the score 3-2 Kansas City.
The next few innings were relatively quiet, as the Dogs were retired in order in the bottom half as one of many 1-2-3 innings that occurred from the bottom of the fifth to the eighth inning.

Monarchs reliever Jordan Martinson gave Kansas City some momentum moving into the bottom of the eighth after he struck out the side in order in the top half.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Darnell Sweeney capitalized on this momentum by reaching base on a one-out infield single, but ended on second base after a throwing error, then on third after a wild pitch.

Back-to-back walks set up David Thompson with a bases loaded one-out opportunity, with which he drew an RBI walk and chased Dogs reliever Kevin Marmon from the game.

Jan Hernandez became relief pitcher Paul Schwendel’s first batter of the game, which he promptly walked to make it back-to-back bases loaded walks for the Monarchs. Casey Gillaspie finally had the big hit that made the Dogs pay for the walks, as he delivered with a big two-RBI double to break it open, giving the Monarchs a very comfortable 7-2 lead.

Jan Hernandez then scored from third to cap off the big eighth inning for the Monarchs offense to make the score 8-2 Kansas City heading to the bottom half.

A 1-2-3 inning from Brandon Koch shut the Dogs down in the bottom half of the eighth inning, turning the inning over to the Monarchs offense one last time.

Matt Adams stepped up to the plate in the top half of the ninth to make sure the Monarchs didn’t finally have a game with no home runs and sent a solo shot to right field to pad the lead even further, 9-2.

The Monarchs’ Matt Blackham came out to toe the rubber in the top of the ninth and secured the sweep, which he did in five batters, giving the Monarchs the 9-2 win.

After a day off on Monday, the Monarchs are back in action at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday against the Sioux City Explorers in an away game.

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.

The Monarchs announced on Monday that Eric Stout, a former left-handed pitcher for the Monarchs, has been called up to the MLB by the Chicago Cubs.

Stout pitched for the Monarchs in 2021 before his contract was purchased by the Miami Marlins organization, and he was assigned to AAA Jacksonville. Stout re-signed with the Monarchs in the off season after winter league play. The Chicago Cubs organization purchased the contract from Kansas City on March 16 and assigned him to the Iowa Cubs. During Stout’s time with Kansas City in 2021, he finished with a record of 2-1 in four starts for the Monarchs. Stout struck out 30 batters over his four pitching appearances and garnered a 1.95 ERA in his 23 innings pitched.

Stout was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft. He appeared in three Royals’ games before being assigned to the Royals’ AAA Omaha affiliate.