Starters Struggle as Monarchs Swept by Canaries in Double-Header
KANSAS CITY, Kan.- The Kansas City Monarchs were swept in their first doubleheader of the season against the Sioux Falls Canaries Tuesday night at Legends Field in Kansas City.
Game 1
Monarchs right-handed pitcher Justin Shafer (0-1) started the night off with four straight strikeouts in the first two innings but ran into trouble when that streak ended. The Canaries picked up four straight hits to race out to a 3-0 lead after two frames.
In the bottom of the second, Casey Gillaspie hit a solo home run off Sioux Falls starter Ty Culbreth (3-0) to cut the lead to 3-1. It was the first earned run the lefty starter had allowed this season.
In the fourth a two out RBI double from the Canaries Angelo Altavilla advanced their lead to 5-1. The Monarchs would quickly responded with home runs from Jan Hernandez and Casey Gillaspie in the fourth inning to narrow the lead to 5-4.
“I’ve seen Casey in action,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said, “He’s a good player, so this is gonna give him the confidence to move forward.”
The Monarchs would get two aboard with one out in the last call inning but back-to-back strike outs by the Canaries Grady Wood to Johnny Field and Jan Hernandez would preserve the win and earn the save, his first.
Game 2
The Monarchs got off to a solid start in game two and lead 3-0 in after two innings. Ryan Grotjohn drove in a run with a single and a wild pitch would score another. The Canaries would allow another run to score on a error on a fielders choice on a throw to second base and it looked like the Monarchs were in business. Canaries starter Eddie Medina (1-0) would settle down from there and retire the next seven batters.
The Canaries responded to the action in the top of the third with a two-run homer by designated hitter Jabari Henry off Monarchs starter Nick Travieso (0-3). Sioux Falls then took the lead after a two-run single by Jordan Ebert to make it a 4-3 score in favor of the Canaries.
The Canaries cracked it open in the top of the fourth scoring seven runs in the inning chasing Travieso from the game. Jabari Henry slammed a double to drive in a run and the Canaries added another five hits in the inning. Monarchs reliever Robinson Martinez would take over and allow two inherited runners to score and allow one as well on his own line to finish off the inning for Kansas City. The Canaries had a comfortable 11-3 lead after midway through the fourth. Travieso pitched for 3.1 innings, giving up 11 hits, 10 runs with nine of those earned, two walks and one strikeout.
Wilmer Torres would work two innings for the Monarchs and surrender another four runs while the Monarchs got an RBI single from Ryan Grotjohn and another RBI on a fielder’s choice from Gabby Guerrero to narrow the final tally to 15-5.
The Monarchs will wrap up their homestand and series Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. against the Sioux Falls Canaries. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:35 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 visiting monarchsbaseball.com. For Monday’s game, the gates open at noon.
For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the Monarchs Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to monarchsbaseball.com. and the Monarchs Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.
By Dan Vaughan, Kansas City Monarchs