by Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs (21-11) could not battle back after a heavy hitting fifth innin
g from the Milwaukee Milkmen (18-14), losing game two of the series 7-4 on Saturday.
Milwaukee got on the board early in the first inning after Mason Davis hit a double, and Corelle Prime brought him in with an RBI single. Kansas City couldn’t respond after the loading the bases and lining out to center to end the inning at 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, Pete Kozma and J.C. Escarra both reached base with a single before Willie Abreu hit one out to right field for an RBI single, tying the game at 1-1.
David Thompson homered in the bottom of the third with a rocket straight to the home run patio in left field to give the Monarchs their first lead at 2-1.
The Milkmen tied the game in the top of the fourth as Aaron Hill reached first base on a single to right before advancing to second and third on an error from Monarchs starting pitcher Akeem Bostick. Logan Trowbridge singled to left and brought in Hill, 2-2.
The top of the fifth was a busy one for the Milkmen as they scored five runs. With the bases loaded–Mason Davis on third, Correlle Prime on second and Will Kengor on first–the Monarchs made a pitching change from Bostick to Frank Rubio.
Dylan Kelly hit an RBI single to make the score 4-2, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double by Jan Hernandez to Pete Kozma. Christ Conley had a base hit for another RBI before Bryan Torres doubled to left field, earning another 2 RBI, the score at 7-2.
The Monarchs got back a run in the bottom of the sixth as Casey Gillaspie was hit by a pitch, and Pete Kozma walked. Willie Abreu got a single to left field for an RBI and lessened the Milkmen’s lead to 7-3.
Kansas City picked it back up in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left center from Jan Hernandez, his 14th as the American Association home run leader, to bring the Monarchs within three at 7-4.
Kozma was left stranded on third in the eighth, and the Monarchs could not piece together any runs in the ninth.
The Monarchs will face the Milkmen at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at Legends Field for game three of the series.
The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 2:30 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.