by Gabriel Lopez, Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs (34-18) outhit the Lincoln Saltdogs (26-25), but fell 4-1 Sunday afternoon at Haymarket Park.
Kansas City had several opportunities to score. The Monarchs finished the game leaving 10 runners on base and were still able to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.
The Saltdogs got on the scoreboard right away. In the bottom of the first, Josh Altmann worked a walk. Wellington Dotel followed Altmann’s at-bat with an infield single. Matt Goodheart reached on a walk to load the bases for Lincoln.
Garett Delano hit a fly ball to right field that could have ended the inning, but Gaby Guerrero made an error on the play, allowing two runs to score. Skyler Weber followed up the at-bat with an RBI-single to score Goodheart. After one inning of play, the Saltdogs led 3-0 over the Monarchs.
Lincoln extended its lead in the second inning. Randy Norris hit a single, stole second and third base, and was brought in as Patrick Caulfield hit a ground ball to second base to score Norris. After two innings of baseball, the Saltdogs led 4-0 over the Monarchs.
Kansas City finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Matt Adams led off the inning with a double past Goodheart, the first baseman. David Thompson reached on an error made by third baseman Drew Devine. With runners at first and third, Guerrero drove a sacrifice fly to right field to score Adams and bring the Monarchs within three runs.
Greg Minier started on the mound for the Saltdogs and kept the Monarchs’ offense in check. He had an excellent outing for Lincoln as he earned a quality start. Minier allowed one run and collected eight strikeouts through six innings of work.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Saltdogs threatened once again. J.R. DiSarcina led off the inning with a single.
A few batters later, Caulfield successfully executed a hit and run to advance DiSarcina to third. With one out, Altmann hit a fly ball to center field. Jan Hernandez caught the ball and delivered a missile to catcher Alexis Olmeda, who made a sensational tag at the plate on DiSarcina. The throw was in time to end the inning and Hernandez recorded his third outfield assist of the season. After seven complete innings, the Saltdogs led 4-1 over the Monarchs.
Kansas City still trailed by three runs entering the top of the ninth inning. Pete Kozma led off the inning with a single. Kozma finished his night 3-4 with three singles. After Olmeda was retired, Darnell Sweeney worked a walk to bring the tying run, Chad De La Guerra, to the plate. De La Guerra struck out and Willie Abreu stepped up to the plate as the tying run, but Sweeney was picked off at first base to end the game.
After the American Association All-Star break, the Monarchs are back in action at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
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 aa baseball.tv.
Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.