By Carter Woodiel, Kansas City Monarchs

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Kansas City Monarchs’ playoff opener couldn’t have gone much better.

Chris Herrmann hit a three-run home run before the game’s first out, Ashton Goudeau threw five shutout innings and the Monarchs blew out the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-1 to take a 1-0 lead in the teams’ best-of-three first-round series.

“It’s fantastic,” Herrmann said. “We hit the ball hard, we drove in runs, we got the big outs when we needed it. What more can you ask for?”

Game 2 is Friday night at Legends Field, where the Monarchs will go for a sweep. First pitch is at 7 p.m.

Herrmann went 3-for-4 with a walk in the comprehensive victory. Taylor Snyder also collected three hits including a solo homer. Four Monarchs relievers combined to allow one run on two hits to see the game through.

Herrmann’s home run brought across Justin Wylie, who led the game off with a single, and Jan Hernandez, who walked. The Monarchs led the rest of the way.

“I’m just trying to hit the ball hard,” Herrmann said. “The wind was blowing out to right; I didn’t have to do anything crazy. I just put a nice swing on the ball, and it went out for me.”

Micker Adolfo drove Hermandez in with a sacrifice fly in the third to make it 4-0. Snyder’s home run made it 5-0 in the sixth.

Goudeau allowed three hits and two walks, striking out four over his five scoreless frames.

Sioux Falls got on the board in the sixth on an RBI single from Hunter Clanin off Jordan Martinson.

Kansas City added three two-out runs in the eighth. Jacob Robson drove in two with a triple. Gavin Collins, who returned to the lineup after a hamstring injury suffered in mid-August, singled to score Robson and make it 8-1.

A two-out RBI double from Brian O’Grady in the ninth brough the game to its final score.

Grant Gavin, Bubby Rossman and Patrick Weigel each threw a scoreless inning to finish the game out.

“I like the type of atmosphere where every inning, every at-bat, every pitch counts,” Herrmann said.

UP NEXT

Miller Hogan will start Game 2 for Kansas City Friday night at 7 p.m. Former Monarch Akeem Bostick will start for Sioux Falls.