Kansas City Holds Off Lincoln

(Photo courtesy of Kansas City Monarchs)

Kansas City, Kansas- The Lincoln Saltdogs were in search of a series-clinching victory Wednesday night at Legends Field.  However, the Kansas City Monarchs defeated Lincoln, 7-4, evening up the midweek set at one game apiece.  Grant Richardson homered for the Monarchs, while Cam Phelts led Lincoln with three hits.

Kansas City (41-29) scored seven runs, off seven hits, committed no errors and stranded seven base runners.  Lincoln (30-40) had four runs, with seven hits, one error, and left six runners on base.  Wednesday night’s game lasted two hours and thirty-nine minutes and was played in front of 991 fans.

Lincoln got on the board in the top of the first.  Facing Kansas City starter Geison Urbaez, Cam Phelts led off with a single, then stole second base.  Nick Shumpert drew a walk.  Then, a double-steal put runners at second and third.  Jake Hjelle grounded out to third, which scored Phelts, to make it 1-0.

In the bottom of the first, Kansas City’s Sahid Valenzuela drew a one-out hit by pitch against Lincoln starter Graham Edwards.  Then, Luken Baker drew a walk.  Two batters later, Grant Richardson hit a three-run home run to left field, to make the score, 3-1.

The Saltdogs got a run back in the top of the third inning.  Cam Phelts led off with a single, then took second on a wild pitch.  Nick Shumpert grounded out to second, which advanced Phelts to third.  Then, Jake Hjelle grounded out to shortstop, scoring Phelts, to make the score, 3-2.

Kansas City put the game out of reach in the bottom of the third inning.  With one out, Saul Garza drew a walk.  Two batters later, Edwin Diaz hit a groundball that went right under Nick Shumpert’s glove, at shortstop, allowing Garza to score.  Then, Hudson Head singled.  The next batter, Wilfred Veras dumped a fly ball into center field, just under the glove of the oncoming Cam Phelts, scoring two, to make it 6-2.

Lincoln tallied its last two runs of the game in the top of the fourth.  Cary Arbolida led off the inning with a single.  Then, Connor Bagnieski did the same.  Tanner O’Tremba hit a bouncing ball to first, which advanced both base runners.  Then, Calyn Halvorson grounded out to shortstop, scoring Arbolida.  The next batter, Griffin Everitt, hit a bouncer left of the mound, up the third base line, which scored Bagnieski, to make the score, 6-4.

The Monarchs added the final run of the night in the bottom of the sixth.  With one out, Onix Vega hit a fly ball to center field, which Cam Phelts lost in the lights, for a double.  Then, two batters later, Sahid Valenzuela hit a fly ball to right, which Cary Arbolida lost in the lights, allowing Vega to score, to make it 7-4.

Lincoln could not get any momentum offensively as three Monarchs pitchers retired the last fifteen Saltdogs batters.

Kansas City starter Geison Urbaez (3-1) earned the win, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up four runs, off seven hits, struck out five and walked three.  Sawyer Allen pitched 2.0 innings and recorded one strikeout.  Tyler Myrick (6) earned the save, pitching a clean ninth inning.

Saltdogs starter Graham Edwards (2-8) took the loss.  He pitched 6.0 innings, yielding seven runs, four earned, off seven hits, struck out two and walked four.  Harold Cortijo pitched 1.0 inning, struck out three and walked one.  Tyler Stasiowski pitched a clean eighth inning.

Offensively for the Monarchs, Sahid Valenzuela was 1-for-4 with an RBI.  Grant Richardson was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run.  Edwin Diaz was 0-for-2 and drove in one run.  Wilfred Veras went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.

For Lincoln, Cam Phelts was 3-for-5.  Jake Hjelle was 0-for-4 and drove in two runs.  Calyn Halvorson was 0-for-4 with an RBI.  Griffin Everitt was 1-for-4 with one run batted in.

The rubber game of the three-game series is Thursday night.  LHP Cam Dayton (1-1, 5.63 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Jimmy Endersby (4-3, 4.91 ERA) will be on the mound for Kansas City.  The first pitch at Legends Field will be 6:35 p.m.  Thursday night’s game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

The next Saltdogs home game will be Friday, August 7^th, when Lincoln hosts the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Haymarket Park, beginning at 7:05 p.m.  That game will be FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing.  It is also The Arc of Lincoln Disability Empowerment Night.  In addition, there will be Post-Game Fireworks sponsored by Sandhills Global.  Plus, part of the Saltdogs 25th Season Celebration, there will be 25% off in the Souvenir Store.  For tickets, merchandise and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.