(KNFL/KFGO) – The RedHawks were looking to win their series against the 1st place Kansas City Monarchs, who only had a half game lead over Winnipeg in the West Division entering Saturday night. Fargo-Moorhead was just 2.5 games back entering the second game of the series.
Kansas City would ambush Fargo-Moorhead’s starter Tyler Jandron early, as Luken Baker would blast a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the first. The Monarchs would add three more runs in the next inning on an Onix Vega RBI single, an Austin Callahan RBI groundout, and a sacrifice fly by Luken Baker.
It would stay 6-0 Monarchs until the bottom of the fifth, as with Sahid Valenzuela on second base, Grant Richardson left the yard on a two-run homer, making it 8-0 Kansas City. That would lead to a pitching change, as Kahler Key would enter in relief.
Luken Baker would hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the 6th. He would score on an RBI single by Saul Garza. Garza would score on an RBI double by Sahid Valenzuela. Kansas City would have a 12-0 lead.
Kansas City starter, Austin Krob, would throw six shutout innings, while giving up three hits, and striking out three. Jay Groome entered the game in relief in the top of the seventh. After an RBI groundout by Aiden Byrne, and an RBI double by Jesus Lujano in that same seventh inning, Fargo-Moorhead would start a late rally.
It would be 12-2 Monarchs in the top of the 8th. Tripp Clark would drive in a run on an RBI single, and Juan Fernandez would bring one home on a fielder’s choice, making it 12-4. Kansas City reliever Durbin Feltman threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded, which made it a 12-5 game. Aiden Byrne would strike out, but the strike was dropped, and the throw to first went up the first base line, allowing two runs to score. Byrne would end up at third base, and he’d score on a groundout by Jesus Lujano. It was 12-8 Monarchs as the RedHawks reloaded the bases after a Jose Sermo walk. Unfortunately, with two outs and Tripp Clark at the plate, Sermo was caught off the first base bag, and was tagged out.
Hudson Head would add to the Kansas City lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth. Brian Fuentes would get the RedHawks back to within eight in the top of the ninth on a fielder’s choice, but Kansas City would hang on 13-9.
Despite the loss, the RedHawks still put up nine runs on 11 hits. Fargo-Moorhead has scored 40 runs in their last three games, spanning from the series finale against the Sioux Falls Canaries Thursday night. Austin Krob would get the win for Kansas City, while Tyler Jandron would be given the loss for Fargo Moorhead. The RedHawks are now 3.5 games behind the Monarchs in the West Division.
The rubber game of the three-game series is Sunday afternoon. It also wraps up a six-game road trip for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. 12:40 is the pregame show on 740 The FAN KNFL AM Fargo/107.3 FM, 740thefan.com, and the FAN mobile app.
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