Category: Kansas City Monarchs

Monarchs’ seven-game winning streak ends

Darnell Sweeney rounded the bases after a home run Sunday at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)
Jose Taveras pitched Sunday against Kane County at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)

The Kansas City Monarchs’ (34-19) seven-game win streak came to an end at Legends Field Sunday in a 3-2 loss against the Kane County Cougars (27-29).

The Kane County Cougars started the game off quickly, putting a run up on the board in the first inning on a sacrifice fly RBI from Mark Karaviotis and adding another run off the bat of Jefferey Baez on a fourth inning sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead.

The Monarchs didn’t respond right away, as they were unable to produce a base hit until the bottom of the fourth with a single from Colin Willis.

Darnell Sweeney put Kansas City on the board in the fifth inning with a home run to right field, his seventh of the season, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Right-handed pitcher Brian Ellington came in with bases loaded in the eighth and managed to walk away from the mound with no damage done, the score still 2-1.

Willis came back in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single, bringing in Gaby Guerrero and tying the game at 2-2.

However, a two-out triple from Mark Karaviotis off Ellington in the top of the ninth was enough for the Cougars to break the tie and win the game 3-2.

Kanas City got a strong outing from Jose Taveras who tossed six innings, scattering seven hits and giving up two earned runs in a no decision. Ellington took the loss, and Christian DeLeon of Kane County got the win.

Kansas City will be off Monday before embarking on a six-game road trip beginning Tuesday night at Lincoln. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Lincoln and 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 Kaitlyn Sanders

Travieso and Guerrero blast Cougars, 10-2

Seven-game winning streak for Monarchs

Right-handed pitcher Nick Travieso delivered a pitch against Kane County on Saturday at the Monarchs game in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)
Designated hitter Gabby Guerrero rounded the bases after his home run in the third inning against Kane County on Saturday. It was his 11th home run. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)

The Kansas City Monarchs (34-18) have been a force to be reckoned with when playing at home at Legends Field this season.

The leaders of the South division are now 24-9 when playing in Kansas City after Saturday night’s 10-2 victory over the Kane County Cougars (26-29).

The game had been all about defense until the bottom of the third when Gaby Guerrero sent one deep into the night sky and over the left field wall. Guerrero’s 11th home run of the season drove in three runs to give the Monarchs the upper hand (4-0).

Kansas City’s starter, Nick Travieso, aimed to be more efficient in his 11th start of the season. The former first-round draft pick had great support all night from his defense as they turned three double-plays throughout the first three innings. Travieso worked with great pace and pitch sequencing to keep the Cougar hitters off-balance.

Jan Hernandez added more run support for his starter in the bottom of the fifth when he belted one over the right-center wall to make it 6-0.

Travieso secured the quality start after exiting in the top of seventh, only allowing five hits, three walks, and two runs. The two runs came via the longball from Kane County’s Jeffrey Baez (6-2).

Gaby Guerrero struck again at the plate in the bottom of the seventh when he drove in his fifth run of the game, tying his season best (8-2). Will Kengor added to the lead after bringing in Charcer Burks with a ground ball to the right side, (9-2).

Dalbert Siri and Elroy Urbina combined to toss three scoreless innings to secure Kansas City’s seventh straight win (10-2).

The Monarchs will finish off their long homestand on Sunday versus the Kane County Cougars. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 12:30 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 Jaxson Webb

Brilliant pitching by Shafer lifts Monarchs to victory

Willis’ clutch hit drives in two runs

Charcer Burks of the Kansas City Monarchs slid in ahead of the tag of B.J. Lopez in action Friday at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)

The Kansas City Monarchs (33-18) won game one of their three-game series against Kane County (26-28) 3-1, on Friday.

Right-hander Justin Shafer dominated in his five innings by only giving up one hit.

The Monarchs offense struggled early by only recording two hits in the first six innings, but Colin Willis came up huge with a clutch double, driving in two runs in the seventh.

Shafer got things going early by striking out back-to-back batters in the first inning. In the second inning he gave up a single to Josh Rolette of the Cougars. An error on a wild throw by shortstop Morgan McCullough advanced Rolette all the way to third base. Kane County capitalized and drove in a run, putting them up 1-0.

Shafer went on to strike out two more batters and continued to dominate the game. He finished his performance going five innings, giving up one hit, one run, and three walks while striking out four.

Through six innings, the Monarchs recorded only two hits. McCullough doubled in the third inning bringing his hitting streak up to nine games. Gabby Guerrero also singled in the fourth.

Right-hander Ryan Newell (1-0) entered the game in the sixth inning for the Monarchs. He started off hot with back-to-back strikeouts.

Kane County starter Josh Tols gave the Monarchs trouble all game. He struck out six batters in a row through the fifth and sixth innings.

The Monarchs finally got things going on offense in the seventh inning. Guerrero started the inning with a single, followed by a walk from Charcer Burks.

With runners at first and second, Colin Willis came up to the plate and drove in both runners to give the Monarchs the lead, 2-1.

Newell went two and a third innings, giving up one hit and struck out three batters.

Jan Hernandez launched a solo home run in the eighth inning to add to the Monarchs’ lead, making it a 3-1 game.

Left-hander Carlos Diaz entered the game in the ninth inning, earning the save. It was his 11th save of the season, for 33 total, tying the franchise record. The Monarchs won 3-1 and have now won six in a row.

Kansas City will take on Kane County in game two of the home series on Saturday night at Legends Field. 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 6:35 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