Category: Kansas City Monarchs

Monarchs come back to win 8-7 over Saltdogs

After dropping the second of a three-game set in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Kansas City Monarchs used a pair of home runs by Darnell Sweeney to defeat the Saltdogs 8-7 in the series finale. It’s only the fifth time Kansas City has beaten Lincoln this season.

Looking to rebound from a short outing against Houston last time, Jake Matthys took the ball in search of his sixth win of the 2021 campaign. The right-hander, however, got off to a shaky start against the Saltdogs — allowing two runs in the first two innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, things got even worse for Matthys. Edgar Corcino and Forrestt Allday, who played for the T-Bones in 2019, smacked a pair of home runs to give the Saltdogs a 4-0 lead.

With only one hit heading into the sixth inning, the Monarchs (36-20) appeared to be headed for their ninth loss in 13 tries against Lincoln.

However, the offense suddenly came to life. Sweeney, whose power has been on display in the month of July, cranked a solo home run to cut the lead to three. Later in the frame, Jan Hernandez blasted his team-leading 19th home run to make it a one-run ball game.

Needing a clean inning, manager Joe Calfapietra turned to Elroy Urbina to hold Lincoln’s offense down. Unfortunately for Kansas City, Curt Smith padded the Saltdogs’ (29-29) lead with an RBI-triple to make it 5-3. The Monarchs, though, rallied furiously in the top of the seventh inning.

Facing left-hander Tyler Anderson, Kansas City stormed back with four runs in the frame thanks to an RBI-double from Casey Gillaspie, a sacrifice fly from Charcer Burks, and go-ahead two-run blast by Collin Willis. The home run was Willis’s 10th of the season.

Without their closer Carlos Diaz, who had his contract transferred to the Mexican League prior to the game, the Monarchs needed serious help from the back end of their bullpen. The first man to come on to preserve the lead was Ryan Newell. However, Newell couldn’t get the job done and was charged with two runs — which tied the game at seven.

The Monarchs wasted no time catching up in the ninth. To lead off the inning, Sweeney pounded his second home run of the game to propel Kansas City out in front 8-7. In the last of the ninth, Brian Ellington stayed on the mound and slammed the door on Lincoln and the series.

Kansas City will continue their road trip Friday starting a weekend series with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in Jackson, Tennessee. The first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6 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.

  • Story by Jack Johnson, Kansas City Monarchs

Monarchs try to come back from loss

An early lead for the Monarchs was not enough Wednesday night as the Saltdogs won 5-2 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Monarchs were held to six hits and struck out 10 times in the contest.

Kansas City (35-20) got on the board first with a solo home run from Ryan Grotjohn in the third inning, putting the Monarchs up 1-0. Lincoln (29-28) came back in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game 1-1 with an RBI single from Ryan Long.

In the fourth inning, the Monarchs kept things moving as Gabby Guerrero reached first on an error by the Saltdogs, which set Casey Gillaspie up for an RBI double, driving in Guerrero and putting Kansas City back up 2-1.

Lincoln then went ahead in the fifth inning: With runners on second and third for the Saltdogs, Justin Byrd knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to tie the game 2-2. Directly after, Ryan Long continued his hot night with a two-run home run that put Lincoln up 4-2.

Right-hander Justin Shafer started on the mound for the Monarchs. He went five innings, giving up seven hits, four earned runs, and two walks while striking out three in his performance.

In the sixth inning, the Saltdogs loaded the bases and drove in another run in the bottom half, making their lead 5-2.

Kansas City could not get much offense going in the final three frames as the Saltdogs controlled the game and earned the win 5-2.

Kansas City will face Lincoln for the third game of this road series on Thursday night, and they will try to earn the series win as it is currently tied. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. 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.

  • Story by Jason Nick, Monarchs

Monarchs start road trip with win

The Kansas City Monarchs (35-19) took the first win of their road series against the Lincoln Saltdogs (28-28) 10-6 Tuesday night in Lincoln.

The Monarchs started with a double by Darnell Sweeney, followed by a Ryan Grotjohn RBI single.

Jan Hernandez singled, advancing Grotjohn to third. Gaby Guerrero stepped up to the plate and got Grotjohn home when he bounced into a six-four-three double play.

With winning pitcher Jameson McGrane (3-1) on the mound, Lincoln responded quickly with a leadoff home run by Justin Byrd, making the score after the first inning 2-1.

The Monarchs’ Will Kengor walked with two outs already on the board in the top of the second. Alexis Olmeda and Darnell Sweeney also walked, loading the bases.

Grotjohn hit a single and cracked things open, scoring Kengor. Hernandez followed with a double, scoring Sweeney, Grotjohn, and Olmeda. Then, after a wild pitch, Hernandez advanced to third.

Guerrero walked, then Casey Gillaspie hit a triple, scoring Hernandez and Guerrero, putting the Monarchs up early and convincingly, 8-1.

The Saltdogs could only muster one run in the bottom of the second. KC stayed quiet in the top of the third, and Lincoln put another run on the board in an attempt to catch up to the Monarchs 8-3 on a sacrifice fly.

At the top of the fourth, the Monarchs continued to dominate, beginning with a single by Grotjohn. Guerrero and Gillaspie then both hit singles, scoring Grotjohn to make it 9-3 in favor of KC.

Ryan Newell came in for McGrane after two runners got on base for the Saltdogs in the bottom of the sixth. Newell gave up a broken-bat single by Yanio Perez, scoring Lincoln’s Curt Smith and chipping away at the Kansas City lead, 9-4.

Charcer Burks hit his first home run in the top of the seventh to increase the lead to 10-3. Lincoln’s Curt Smith then launched a homer, scoring him and David Vidal, leaving the Saltdogs trailing by four, 10-6, in the bottom of the seventh.

Dalbert Siri stepped in for Ryan Newell for an inning of scoreless relief before Carlos Diaz came in to close the game. The Monarchs left the field winners with a final score of 10-6.

The Kansas City Monarchs will continue their series against the Lincoln Saltdogs Wednesday night, with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. 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 Emerson Peavey, Monarchs