by Kaitlyn Sanders
The Cleburne Railroaders (16-33) put an end to the Kansas City Monarchs’ (32-17) winning streak on Thursday night in Texas with a walk-off single in the 10th that scored two runs.
The Railroaders won 12-11 with Eddie Arroyo’s single in the 10th.
The Monarchs trailed by as much as six twice in the game but tied the score at 10-10 in the top of the eighth. It was close until Cleburne’s winning single.
The Railroaders got on the board first in the bottom of the third as Hector Sanchez singled; then Nick Shumpert doubled to left field, and an Arroyo sacrifice fly brought in Sanchez, bringing the score to 1-0 going into the fourth.
In back-to-back innings, Cleburne rounded the bases as Zach Nehrir led off the inning before stealing second and heading to third on a fly out from Chase Simpson. Hill Alexander sent one to center field for a two-run home run, adding to the Railroaders score, 3-0.
The Railroaders weren’t done adding to the scoreboard in the fifth as Jacob Bockelie got a base hit before Arroyo doubled to right field and Chuck Taylor launched a home run to right field to double Cleburne’s lead at 6-0.
The Monarchs were held to just five hits through five innings with base runners Gaby Guerrero and Kevin Santa both going 2-2 but being stranded both times.
David Thompson got the Monarchs on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo home run to left field to make it 6-1 in favor of Railroaders. A pitching change for Cleburne to Danny Zardon did not stop Casey Gillaspie from hitting a two-run home run to bring in Jan Hernandez, cutting the Railroaders lead in half at 6-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Kacy Clemens hit a ground-rule double before an Alexander base hit, bringing Clemens home for an RBI. An error from third baseman Thompson advanced Sanchez to first and Alexander landed at third base. Jacob Bockelie singled, bringing in Alexander for another run, and Sanchez filled the spot at third. A sacrifice fly from Arroyo brought in one last RBI for the Railroaders in the sixth and took back a six-run lead, 9-3.
In the top of the seventh, Cleburne turned to Kevin McCarthy out of the bullpen, and the Monarchs promptly load the bases against the Railroader reliever. Alexis Olmeda singled to center field before Darnell Sweeney and Thompson were both walked. A fielder’s choice got Hernandez out at first base but brought in Olmeda for an RBI.
Matt Adams then doubled and cleared the bases, adding two more to the Monarchs tally before the Railroaders initiated another pitching change with the score at 9-6. Cleburne’s new reliever, Austin Fairchild, immediately gave up a two-run home run to Guerrero, bringing the Monarchs within one at 9-8.
It was homer after homer for both sides as Chase Simpson sent a solo shot to right-center field to give the Railroaders a bit of a buffer at 10-8.
Olmeda singled to start the top of the eighth before Sweeney hit a ball to left field for a two-run home run, tying the game at 10-10.
The Railroaders had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, but a crucial strikeout from Brandon Koch ended the inning, the game still tied. Monarchs were retired in order in the top of the ninth by Hunter Cervenka.
Cleburne managed to get two runners on with two outs with back-to-back walks but Monarch’s closer Jameson McGrane retired Alexander on a ground ball back to the mound to send the game to extra innings.
With Guerrero on base at second under the American Association extra-inning rule, Pete Kozma reached on an error from the second baseman Arroyo scoring Guerrero, putting the Monarchs up one at 11-10 heading into the bottom of the 10th.
Arroyo atoned for the error in the bottom of the 10th. With runners at second and third and two outs he delivered a bases clearing RBI single to center field that ended the Monarchs five-game winning streak.
Monarchs starting pitcher Jon Harris went 4.1 innings pitched, with 6 hits, 6 runs and 4 strikeouts versus Railroaders starter Kody Bullard, who went 5.1 innings pitched, 6 hits, 2 runs and 6 strikeouts.
The Monarchs have a day off Thursday before starting a new three-game road series against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:06 p.m. Friday, July 8. The away game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:36 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.
Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by monarchsbaseball.com.