Category: Kansas City Monarchs

Newly acquired Ibandel Isabel hit a walk-off home run on Sunday for the Monarchs to win against Cleburne in baseball action at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Isabel was acquired prior to the Thursday game with Cleburne, and started with a home run in his first at-bat.

The Monarchs’ designated hitter launched a two-out blast to left to power the team, now 50-24, to a 12-inning 9-8 win over the Railroaders, now 39-34.

The Railroaders took the lead early with two unearned runs from Noah Vaughan and Alay Lago in the first 10 minutes of the game.

It was a battle early between the starting pitchers, Monarchs’ right-handed pitcher Justin Donatella and Railroaders’ left-handed pitcher Kody Bullard, both with four strikeouts in as many innings.

The game remained quiet until the fifth inning when Cleburne’s Alay Lago earned his first RBI of the game, bringing the score to 3-0. Osvaldo Martinez was the next batter and shot a ball out to left center field with a two-run home run, extending the lead to five in the sixth.

The sixth inning continued to be a crucial one for the Railroaders as Hunter Clanin earned an RBI as Chase Simpson ran in from second base.

Morgan McCullough put the Monarchs on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning with a base hit, bringing in Will Kengor.

Unlike the night before, the Monarchs saw their first home run of the afternoon in the seventh inning from Gabby Guerrero, making the score 6-2.

The Monarchs kept rolling as Casey Gillsapie went to bat, giving the Monarchs back-to-back home runs with one of his own to deep right field.

Ibandel Isabel launched a rocket to left field for the third home run of the inning, with zero outs in sight.

Colin Willis attempted to go four-for-four in the inning with a home run of his own but managed to reach third base on a ball far out in right center. A sacrifice fly from Morgan McCullough brought in Willis to bring the Monarchs within one run.

Charcer Burks delivered a base hit to left center field, earning himself an RBI as Kengor rounded second and third, tying the game at 6-6.

Innings eight and nine went quietly as Monarchs right-handed pitcher Jameson McGrane delivered three strikeouts before the game went into extra innings.

Osvaldo Martinez got on base with a single before Chase Simpson sent one out to right center field for a two-run home run, leaving something to be desired from the Monarchs with an 8-6 score going into the bottom of the tenth.

Burks was walked, putting him at first base before Sweeney launched a ball to center field with a two-run home run, tying the game at 8-8.

The eleventh inning didn’t produce anything before Isabel launched a rocket to left field in the bottom of the twelfth to end the game.

The Monarchs will enjoy an off day on Monday, then hit the road for a seven-game road trip starting Tuesday night in Sioux City with the first pitch at 7 p.m. 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.

• by Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs

In a back-and-forth shootout, the Monarchs came out with a 16-12 victory over the second place Cleburne Railroaders Friday night at Legends Field. Kansas City’s five home runs pushed its total over 100 on the season.

After Jake Matthys allowed a run in the top of the first, the Monarchs ignited their offensive explosion in the bottom half.

Morgan McCullough, who’s been on fire since moving to the lead-off spot, smoked a solo home run over the wall in right-center to tie things up at one.

A few batters later, Darnell Sweeney rocked a two-run shot to the opposite field to give Kansas City a 3-1 lead.

The Railroaders managed to retake the lead after scoring a total of three runs in the second and third innings, but 22-year-old Cleburne starter Jalen Evans couldn’t avoid solid contact.

Kansas City, in first place in the standings, responded with two more runs in the third on Gabby Guerrero’s 14th homer of the season.

However, a one-run lead wasn’t safe enough. The Railroaders knotted things back up at five in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Osvaldo Martinez.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kansas City put the final nail in the coffin on Evans. With two runners on, Ryan Grotjohn pounded a three-run homer to give the Monarchs an 8-5 advantage.

The Railroaders, however, answered with two runs off Matthys in the top half of the fifth.

The game, for the most part, was busted open when Kansas City came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth. Five runs came in to score thanks to a two-run single from Colin Willis and three-run bomb by Daniel Wasinger. The home run was Wasinger’s first professional home run.

Ryan Newell came on in relief of Matthys in the sixth, but he allowed two more solo shots off the bats of Martinez and Ramon Hernandez — cutting the lead to 13-9.

After their bats cooled for an inning, Cleburne came roaring back off Gunnar Groen and Dalbert Siri. The Railroaders tagged the pair for three runs and cut the deficit down to one.

Fortunately for the Monarchs, the offense added some cushion in the bottom of the eighth. Guerrero had an RBI-single and Casey Gillaspie smashed an RBI-double that scored two.

Holding a four-run lead in the ninth, Siri stayed on and slammed the door for his third save of the season.

Kansas City faces Cleburne in Game 3 of a four-game set Saturday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with the gates opening at 5 p.m. 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.

On Saturday, Rob Riggle is scheduled to be the special guest at the Monarchs game. Fireworks are planned every Saturday night.

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

• Story by Jack Johnson