Five-Run Fourth Propels Monarchs, Even Series

Robert Pannier September 17, 2023

Photo Credit: Jennifer Andreachi/Field Dreams Photography

American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Rob Pannier recaps the second game of the Miles Wolff Cup Finals as the Kansas City Monarchs ride a five-run fourth inning to even the series.

TWITA: 2023 American Association Playoffs, Final Round, Game 2

Homers Propel Monarchs to Victory

The Kansas City Monarchs scored five-runs in the fourth inning to help them even the championship series, defeating the Chicago Dogs, 7-3. Kansas City hit three home runs in the contest. Zac Grotz earned the victory, tossing six solid innings.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings, but Kansas City exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth. Odubel Herrera led off with a single and Chris Herrmann walked two batters later. That brought Jan Hernandez to the plate, who crushed a three-run homer, his third of the postseason. Kansas City was not done, however, as Micker Adolfo followed with a double. Chicago starter Austin Faith was able to retire the next batter, but Taylor Snyder kept the inning alive with an RBI double and he scored on an RBI single by Jacob Robson.

The Dogs got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame when Nick Heath and Ryan Lidge delivered back-to-back doubles. Chicago made it a three-run game in the seventh when Luke Mangieri led off with his first home run of the postseason. The Dogs had an opportunity to get closer in this contest as Dylan Rosa followed with a double and Matt Bottcher walked, putting two on with no one out. Grotz came out and Brandon Finnegan took over. He retired the next three batters in order to keep his team on top by three.

In the eighth, the Monarchs extended their lead back to five. Justin Wylie led off with his first homer of the postseason and Adolfo added a solo shot two batters later. The Dogs refused to go away, however, as Lidge led off with a single. Josh Altmann then hit into a fielder’s choice, and he scored when Mangieri doubled into centerfield. In Enfield single put runners at the corners with two down, but Finnegan got out of the jam, striking out Cody Bohanek looking to end the frame.

The Monarchs restored the five-run lead in the top of the ninth against Dogs closer Brian Schlitter. A single and a hit by pitch started the inning before Gavin Collins followed with a base hit. Robson tried to score but was thrown out of the plate by Rosa. Wylie then struck out, but Herman singled into left field, driving home LJ Hatch to make it 8-3.

Chicago refused to go away, however. Jesus Lujano led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo homer against Patrick Weigel to pull his team back within four, but that is as close as they would get.

Grotz earned the victory, allowing two runs in six innings. Adolfo and Robson each had two hits and Adolfo scored two runs. Lidge had three hits for Chicago and Mangieri had two hits and two RBI.

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Jan Hernandez (Kansas City Monarchs) 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB

No. 2 – Micker Adolfo (Kansas City Monarchs) 2-5, 2 R, HR, Double, RBI

No. 1 – Zac Grotz (Kansas City Monarchs) 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K

American Association Daily Notes

Game 3 of the Miles Wolff Cup Finals will be on Tuesday in Kansas City. Right-hander Nick Green is expected to go for Chicago against right-hander Ashton Goudeau for the Monarchs… Two-time American Association batting champion Bryan Torres had his contract transferred from the Milwaukee milkmen to the St. Louis Cardinals organization.