by Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs (46-22) secure game two against the Kane County Cougars (35-36) in a 4-3 game.
Monarchs starter Lewis Thorpe produced a quick 1,2,3 first inning on the way to retiring the first nine batters in a row.
The Monarchs stranded five runners in the first two innings before breaking through in the third.
David Thompson started two-for-two with a stand-up triple to right-center field in the home half of the third. Matt Adams batted next and sent a ball to center for an RBI double; the Monarchs held their first lead at 1-0.
Kane County avoided another bases-loaded scenario with a 4-6-3 double play, taking out Gillaspie at second and Escarra at first.
Cougar Ernie De La Trinidad got a walk in the top of the fourth. Jimmy Kerrigan sent a base-hit single to left field, but both men were left stranded by the third out.
In his first game back with the Monarchs, Ryan Grotjohn reached base on a walk before Sweeney singled to right field, but an error by first baseman Dylan Busby sent him to second.
Santa singled to center for two RBI before Thompson singled to right. Monarchs extended the lead further as Adams sent one deep to left-center field, bringing the score to 4-0.
The Cougars put the first run on the board in the fifth as Alexis Pantoja tripled to deep right-center field and a put-out from B.J. Lopez brought him in, Kane County no longer scoreless at 4-1.
Kane County brought in another run in the seventh courtesy of a putout from Pantoja. Dylan Busby singled to left field before Sherman Johnson sent one to deep right field for a double.
After a pitching change from Brian Glowicki to Jordan Martinson, Galli Cribbs Jr. completed a single to center for an RBI, digging into the Monarchs lead at 4-3.
In the top of the eighth, Jeremy Rhoades took the mound for two strikeouts, one being Kerrigan, who in game one went two -or-four with three RBI courtesy of a home run, ending the night one-for-four with three strikeouts.
Manager Joe Calfapietra said of Kerrigan, “We got ahead, you get ahead, you know then you get a chance, you get behind a good hitter it just makes it a little more difficult.”
In the bottom of the eighth, Cougars pitcher Koby Bishop loaded the bases. Santa and Thompson both singled to left field before Adams was walked.
Monarchs finished the night at 4-3 as Santa was picked off at third by catcher B.J. Lopez and Jameson McGrane ended the top of the ninth with two strikeouts.
It was a tense match-up on the mound with Lewis Thorpe going 6 innings pitched for 2 hits, 1 run, 2 bases on balls and 5 strikeouts compared to Jack Fox at 5 innings pitched, 9 hits, 4 runs, 6 bases on balls and 4 strikeouts.
The Monarchs will finish this series homestand against the Kane County Cougars at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. 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.