By Carter Woodiel, Kansas City Monarchs

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Kansas City Monarchs were three outs short of history in a dominant win over Lincoln Tuesday night.

Monarchs pitchers threw eight no-hit innings in the 8-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs at Haymarket Park.

It was a great game for everybody,” Monarchs catcher Chris Herrmann said. “Obviously the pitchers did fantastic, and we came out swinging tonight.”

Jalen Miller and Matt Hartman combined to throw the first eight frames. A Nick Anderson home run off Beaux Bonvillan in the ninth broke up the bid.

The win moves Kansas City (9-8) back above .500 and back into third place in the American Association West Division.

Herrmann continued his torrid hitting, going 3-for-4 with a grand slam. Herrmann has a 14-game hitting streak going and now leads the AAPB with 26 RBIs

“If it weren’t for my teammates my stats wouldn’t be what they are,” Herrmann said. “It’s a group effort, it’s not just me or any one person.”

Miller threw five innings to start the game off for KC, walking five and hitting a batter but not allowing a hit. He struck out a season-high seven.

“Jalen’s got a really good fastball; his curveball looked great tonight,” said Herrmann, who caught all nine innings. “We just tried to keep them off balance.”

The Monarchs opened the scoring in the fifth on a two-run home run from Dylan Rosa, his third of the season.

Lincoln starter Josh Roeder went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Kansas City broke the game open in the seventh. The Monarchs opened the inning with three walks, and Johneshwy Fargas delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0.

Another Monarchs walk loaded the bases, and Herrmann delivered his grand slam two batters later.

“The biggest key is just swinging at strikes,” Herrmann said of his hot hitting. “If it’s in the zone, I’m gonna be ready to hit.”

Meanwhile, Hartman worked three scoreless innings in relief for the Monarchs. The only baserunner he allowed was a leadoff walk in the eighth inning.

“At that point I feel like these guys are relying on me to make the right call, so there’s a lot of pressure on me as well.” Herrmann said. “[Hartman’s] split was working really well, and they were biting at it, they were swinging at it.”

Anderson’s home run came on the first pitch of the ninth. It was his third blast of the series and league-best eighth homer of the season.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs look to win their fourth straight series as they face the Saltdogs in a rubber game Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Zach Matson will make his first start of the season for the Monarchs against Lincoln’s John Bezdicek.