Category: Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs (23-17) put on a show for the season-high crowd of 3,375 fans before the post-game fireworks display in Kansas City, Kansas. They outscored the Lincoln Saltdogs (20-20) 11-3 to halt their two-game skid.

The Monarchs wasted no time jumping on the Saltdogs’ starter Adolfo Espinoza in his debut. The second batter, Ryan Grotjohn, ripped a single to right and Jan Hernandez deposited a 1-0 pitch into right center to score them both.

Collin Willis pulled a solo shot into left in the second before Grotjohn and Hernandez came back around to repeat their first-inning success in the third.

Hernandez finished the game 3-4 with two home runs and five runs batted in.

Right-handed starter Jake Matthys didn’t need the run support, going seven innings while giving up three runs on seven hits.

A series of singles and a double in the fourth knocked Espinoza out of the game and gave the Monarchs three more runs.

Kevin Santa scored Casey Gillaspie from first on a double in the fifth to bring the Monarch total to nine.

Grotjohn slapped an RBI triple into left center to and then came around to score in the bottom of the eighth for good measure.

Kansas City turned to its bullpen in the eighth to shut the door on visitors from Lincoln, bringing in left-handed pitcher Erik Cha to finish out the game.

The Kansas City Monarchs will face the Lincoln Saltdogs in the fourth game of the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. with the gates opening at 2 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 2:35 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

The July 4 game will be an Independence Day thorwback featuring 1945 Monarchs style jerseys. Kids 10 and younger can eat for free. A pre-game hot dog eating contest is planned. There will be post-game catch on the field.

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

• Story from Nathan Enserro

Playing their second doubleheader in a row the Kansas City Monarchs (22-17) dropped both games to the visiting Lincoln Saltdogs (20-19) Friday night at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas
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Game 1
In game one of a double header, Kansas City lost 7-5 to Lincoln. Pitching struggles and a slow start on offense gave the Saltdogs the advantage in the first outing.

With right-handed pitcher Nick Travieso on the mound for the Monarchs, the Saltdogs got things started in the first inning with a solo home run from Forrestt Allday to gain an early 1-0 lead. They did not hold the lead for long as Jan Hernandez tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run of his own for his eleventh of the season.

In the third inning, with a runner in scoring position at third base for the Saltdogs, a wild pitch from Travieso that got past catcher Morgan McCullough brought the runner in to score as the Saltdogs took back the lead 2-1.

After a quiet few innings on the bats for both teams, the Saltdogs took control over the whole game. A two-run home run from Josh Altmann added to their lead, putting Lincoln up 4-1.

Travieso gave up four runs on five hits with three strikeouts in five and a third innings pitched.

Left-handed pitcher Elroy Urbina entered the game in the sixth inning, replacing Travieso. The pitching struggles continued as Urbina gave up a double to his first batter and immediately gave up an RBI single that helped the Saltdogs add to their lead, making it a 5-1 game.

The Saltdogs were not done, as an RBI double by Yanio Perez made it a 6-1 contest.

Urbina was pulled without recording an out, putting RHP Ramsey Romano on the mound next.

With runners at second and third with one out in the sixth, the Saltdogs continued to add runs on the board. A ground out drove in the runner from third, putting Lincoln up 7-1.

The Monarchs got some things going in the bottom of the seventh inning, trying to mount a comeback. With a Colin Willis single, a walk by Charcer Burks, and single from Will Kengor, the bases were loaded for Kansas City with one out. McCullough advanced to first on a fielder’s choice, driving in Willis to cut the game to 7-2.

Kevin Santa then singled to drive in another run for the Monarchs, making it 7-3. Ryan Grotjohn then walked and loaded the bases again with two outs, bringing Jan Hernandez to the plate.

Hernandez walked and the Monarchs brought in another run, making it a 7-4 game. Gabby Guerrero came up to bat with bases loaded once again. Guerrero took a walk as well, cutting it to 7-5 for the Saltdogs. Casey Gillaspie popped out to the third baseman in foul territory to end the game.

• Story from Jason Nick

Game 2

The Lincoln Saltdogs (20-19) had the Monarchs’ number all season long. Kansas City (22-17) entered the nightcap of the doubleheader 1-5 against the visitors from Nebraska and were looking to change that.

The Saltdogs continued their strong offensive efforts in the early going of game two. They were able to notch two runs off Monarchs starter, Justin Shafer.

A pair of singles and a sacrifice fly put the Dogs on top.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Monarchs earned their first run from a ground ball hit by Charcer Burks. The hit drove in Jan Hernandez who reached base, walking to lead off the inning.

Right-handed pitcher Ryan Newell got his first ever appearance in the Kansas City pinstripes. Newell reached his way to the Monarchs active roster on June 26. He came into the game in relief for Jacob Lindgren in the fifth inning. The reliever worked his way out of a jam and finished his first inning cleanly. Newell did not allow a run, nor a hit, but walked one, and struck-out one as well.

The Monarchs struggled all night offensively, only recording four hits in game two. Lincoln’s pitching staff was nearly dominant. Their rotation of Minier, Hope, Lombana and Pugliese held the hometown team to just a single run.

Carlos Diaz finished the game for the Monarchs on the mound. He made quick work, striking out the first two batters, walking the third, then striking out the fourth to end the top of the seventh inning.

In their last chance at the plate, the Monarchs went down swinging. Burks and Willis both went down on strikes to begin the inning. Catcher Alexis Olmeda kept the game alive with a two-out single right up the middle. The torch was then passed to Kevin Santa who grounded out in a fielder’s choice to end the game. The Saltdogs took game two, 2-1.

The Kansas City Monarchs will face the Lincoln Saltdogs in the third game of the series on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with the gates opening at 5 p.m. There will be a full fireworks display after the conclusion of the game. 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 from Jaxson Webb

The Kansas City Monarchs (22-15) took both games of a doubleheader with the Sioux Falls Canaries (18-20) Thursday night at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. The Monarchs won the first game 9-5 and took the night cap 3-1.

Game 1

There were no goose eggs on the scoreboard for the Monarchs and Canaries in game one as both clubs got the bats going early. The Sioux Falls Canaries came out swinging in the first inning with an RBI from Nick Gotta and two-run home run from Jabari Henry, putting three up on the board early.

Kansas City responded right away with an RBI single from Gaby Guerrero in the bottom of the first, two more coming off the bat of Ryan Grotjohn, who had a two-run scoring single in the second, tying the game going into the third 3-3.

The Monarchs took the lead for good in the third with a solo home run from Colin Willis, the run brought the score to 4-3 in favor of KC.

Jan Hernandez rocketed the ball out of the ballpark at 506 feet (yes it was measured), bringing in Morgan McCullough and Grotjohn for a three-run home run and adding to their lead, 7-3, in the fourth. Two RBIs from the Canaries in the fifth shortened the lead to 7-5.

Darnell Sweeney and Casey Gillaspie added to the run tally with an RBI each in the fifth and sixth innings, ending the game with a final score of 9-5.

Monarchs’ starting pitcher right hander Jameson McGrane (1-1) pitched four innings with six strikeouts to pick up his first professional win while Carlos Pimentel (3-2) was charged with the loss.

Game 2

It was a battle of the pitchers in the second game, with Cody Mincey (2-0) winning the crown and Ty Culbreth (6-1) coming up short. The dueling left-handers combined for 12 strikeouts in 12 innings and each just gave up one earned run in their outing.

Cody Mincey pitched a full game tossing seven innings and finishing with 91 pitches; he allowed three hits, one run, one walk, and recorded five strikeouts.

Gabby Guerrero kicked the party off for the Monarchs with a single to left field. Casey Gillaspie followed with another single to left, advancing Guerrero to second base. Then, Charcer Burks was walked by Culbreth.

After an Alexis Olmeda strikeout, Kevin Santa hit a ball to short that was misplayed by shortstop Angelo Altavilla, bringing Guerrero home to make it 1-0 Kansas City on the unearned run.

Ty Culbreth pitched for five innings, recorded seven strikeouts, allowed six hits, two runs, one walk, and one home run.

Casey Gillaspie hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth and livened the crowd at Legends Field.

The Canaries attempted to peck their way at the Monarchs’ lead in the top of the sixth, loading the bases, but Mincey was able to work out of the jam, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Monarchs put another unearned run on the board off reliever Robbie Gordon. The action started with a walk by Casey Gillaspie, then Charcer Burks hit a single to center field. Colin Willis followed with a fielder’s choice, forcing out Burks at second.

Alexis Olmeda walked to load the bases, then a ground ball by Kevin Santa to first base was bobbled by first baseman Trey Michalczewski,whose error brought Gillaspie home for his second run of the night, making it 3-1.

Mincey worked a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to finish off the sweep for the Monarchs.

Kansas City will start a new series against the Lincoln Saltdogs, beginning with a doubleheader Friday night. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Legends Field with the gates opening at 4 p.m.

A promotion scheduled for Friday night is Superheroes Night, and those attending can take photos with their favorite superheroes at the second game. There will be a costume contest with prizes for all ages.

The games can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 4:35 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 and Emerson Peavey, Monarchs