Newly acquired Ibandel Isabel hit a walk-off home run on Sunday for the Monarchs to win against Cleburne in baseball action at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
Isabel was acquired prior to the Thursday game with Cleburne, and started with a home run in his first at-bat.
The Monarchs’ designated hitter launched a two-out blast to left to power the team, now 50-24, to a 12-inning 9-8 win over the Railroaders, now 39-34.
The Railroaders took the lead early with two unearned runs from Noah Vaughan and Alay Lago in the first 10 minutes of the game.
It was a battle early between the starting pitchers, Monarchs’ right-handed pitcher Justin Donatella and Railroaders’ left-handed pitcher Kody Bullard, both with four strikeouts in as many innings.
The game remained quiet until the fifth inning when Cleburne’s Alay Lago earned his first RBI of the game, bringing the score to 3-0. Osvaldo Martinez was the next batter and shot a ball out to left center field with a two-run home run, extending the lead to five in the sixth.
The sixth inning continued to be a crucial one for the Railroaders as Hunter Clanin earned an RBI as Chase Simpson ran in from second base.
Morgan McCullough put the Monarchs on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning with a base hit, bringing in Will Kengor.
Unlike the night before, the Monarchs saw their first home run of the afternoon in the seventh inning from Gabby Guerrero, making the score 6-2.
The Monarchs kept rolling as Casey Gillsapie went to bat, giving the Monarchs back-to-back home runs with one of his own to deep right field.
Ibandel Isabel launched a rocket to left field for the third home run of the inning, with zero outs in sight.
Colin Willis attempted to go four-for-four in the inning with a home run of his own but managed to reach third base on a ball far out in right center. A sacrifice fly from Morgan McCullough brought in Willis to bring the Monarchs within one run.
Charcer Burks delivered a base hit to left center field, earning himself an RBI as Kengor rounded second and third, tying the game at 6-6.
Innings eight and nine went quietly as Monarchs right-handed pitcher Jameson McGrane delivered three strikeouts before the game went into extra innings.
Osvaldo Martinez got on base with a single before Chase Simpson sent one out to right center field for a two-run home run, leaving something to be desired from the Monarchs with an 8-6 score going into the bottom of the tenth.
Burks was walked, putting him at first base before Sweeney launched a ball to center field with a two-run home run, tying the game at 8-8.
The eleventh inning didn’t produce anything before Isabel launched a rocket to left field in the bottom of the twelfth to end the game.
The Monarchs will enjoy an off day on Monday, then hit the road for a seven-game road trip starting Tuesday night in Sioux City with the first pitch at 7 p.m. 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.
- by Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs