For the first time since 1965, a professional team known as the Kansas City Monarchs notched a win of a regular season game.
The Monarchs blasted three home runs against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to go on to a historic 9-4 win.
Coming into the Friday night game, the Monarchs had only six runs across two games. However, the Monarchs came out swinging, scoring six runs in just the bottom of the fifth.
Right-handed pitcher Brian Glowicki got the start on the mound, pitching for five innings, recording five strikeouts, and allowing only one walk and two runs.
The Monarchs came alive in the bottom of the third, with Morgan McCullough scoring, thanks to a double by outfielder Darnell Sweeney. The RedHawks sped past the Monarchs in the top of the fourth with two RBI recorded by Leobaldo Pina and Alex Boxwell.
Kansas City rallied back on top in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a two-run homer by infielder Will Kengor, allowing him and fellow infielder Casey Gillaspie to come home. It was a strong offensive performance in the bottom of the fifth for the Kansas City Monarchs as outfielder Johnny Field hit a two-run homer, bringing Sweeney home.
Outfielder Jan Hernandez reached on an error, then a wild pitch by the RedHawks’ right-handed pitcher Brent Jones got Hernandez to second. Hernandez then punched in a run after an RBI double to right field by Casey Gillaspie, extending the Monarchs’ lead 6-2.
Kengor then followed with another double to left field, bringing Gillaspie home for another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Colin Willis then brought Kengor home on a two-run homer to right, putting the Monarchs on top 9-2, closing out the inning.
Right-handed pitcher Kevin Lenik stepped on the mound at the top of the sixth inning, pitching one scoreless inning, recording two strikeouts, and allowing one walk and no runs.
Newcomer right-handed pitcher Dean Deetz came in during the seventh inning, allowing three walks in his first inning but managed to escape unscored on in the inning.
The RedHawks loaded the bases in the eighth forcing Deetz from the game after a bases-loaded walk to Jordan George.
Right-handed pitcher Jameson McGrane relieved Dietz in the top of the eighth. He tallied one strikeout, one hit and no walks or runs while allowing and inherited run to score on an RBI single from Manuel Boscan to make it 9-4 in favor of Kansas City.
McGrane struck out Prime to finish out the top of the eighth inning leaving the bases loaded to extinguish any threat from the RedHawks.
Right-handed pitcher Robinson Martinez finished off pitching for the night, coming in at the top of the ninth and recording one strikeout, two hits and no walks to finish the game for the Monarchs.
The Kansas City Monarchs will continue the series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Saturday night, with first pitch set for 7 p.m., and the gates opening at 5 p.m. at Legends Field in KCK.
The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:35 p.m. and the video stream will air on aabaseball.tv. The game can also be heard locally on 1510 ESPN Kansas City.
Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.
- Story from Dan Vaughan, Kansas City Monarchs