Saltdogs Fall in Slugfest with Monarchs

Lincoln, Nebraska–   In a contest that had 28 runs, 30 hits and eight home runs, the Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs, 16-12, Tuesday afternoon at Haymarket Park.  In front of a single-season attendance high of 5,287, during LPS Kids Day, the Saltdogs could not hold on to the lead, in a game that took three hours and nine minutes.

Kansas City (8-2) scored 16 runs off 15 hits with no errors and smacked five home runs.  Lincoln (2-8) tallied 12 runs off 15 hits with no errors, and hit three home runs, two of which came off the bat of Kyle Battle.

The Monarchs scored three in the top of the first.  Facing Lincoln starter, Johnny Blake, Kansas City’s Jorge Bonifacio hit a two-out solo home run to left field, to make it 1-0.  The next batter, Isiah Gilliam singled.  Then, Robbie Glendinning hit a two-run home run, to make it a 3-0 Kansas City lead.

Lincoln responded in the bottom of the second.  Facing Kansas City starter Patrick Pridgen, the Saltdogs’ Connor Denning led off with a walk.  Then, Kyle Battle hit his first home run of the season, to make it a 3-2 game.

Kansas City added a run in the top of the third.  Peyton Holt led off with a double.  Two batters later, Isiah Gilliam doubled, driving in Holt, to make it 4-2, Kansas City.

The Saltdogs put together their best inning offensively in the bottom of the third, sending ten batters to the plate and scoring six runs, to take the lead.  Yusniel Diaz led off with a walk.  Then, Spencer Henson doubled to put runners at second and third.  Jack Dragum drew a walk to load the bases.  The next batter, Rolando Espinosa singled, scoring Diaz, to make it a 4-3 score.  Then, Connor Denning hit a two-RBI double, plating Henson and Dragum to put Lincoln in front, 5-4.  Then, Kyle Battle hit a three-run home run, and his second long ball of the game, to put Lincoln in front 8-4.

The Monarchs got a run back in the top of the fourth.  Jaylyn Williams led off with a double.  After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Ross Adolf drove in Williams on a ground out, to make the score 8-5.

Lincoln put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth.  Facing reliever Connor Holden, Rolando Espinosa singled, with two outs, then stole second.  The next batter, Connor Denning, singled, scoring Espinosa, to make it 9-5.  Two batters later, Matt Phipps hit a single, bringing home Denning, to put Lincoln ahead 10-5.

In the top of the fifth, Kansas City responded by scoring four runs.  Facing Lincoln reliever Gaylon Viney, Jorge Bonifacio led off with a walk. Then, Isiah Gilliam singled and stole second base.  The next batter, Robbie Glendinning doubled, scoring Bonifacio and Gilliam, to make the score 10-7.  Three batters later, Josh Bissonette hit a two-run home run, to make it a 10-9 game.

Kansas City took the lead for good in the top of the sixth.  Facing Saltdogs reliever Matt Mullenbach, Ross Adolf was hit by a pitch, then advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Two batters later, Jorge Bonifacio hit an RBI double, scoring Adolf, to make it a 10-10 game.  The next batter, Isiah Gilliam singled.  Then Robbie Glendinning singled, scoring Bonifacio, to make it 11-10 with runners on the corners.  Glendinning stole second, while Gilliam scored on a wild pitch, to make it 12-10, Kansas City.  Two batters later, Jaylyn Williams hit a two-run home run to put the Monarchs ahead 14-10.

In the top of the seventh, facing Lincoln reliever Franny Cobos, Kansas City’s Ryan Leitch led off with a walk, then stole second.  Three batters later, Jorge Bonifacio hit his second home run of the day, this one a two-RBI swing, to make it a 16-10 Kansas City lead.

Lincoln tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth.  Facing reliever Junior Cerda, the Saltdogs’ Danny Bautista, Jr. singled, with one out.  Two batters later, Yusniel Diaz hit an opposite field home run, to right-center, to make it 16-12.  However, Cerda got Spencer Henson to fly out to left field, to end the game.

Kansas City starter Patrick Pridgen pitched 2.0 innings, giving up eight runs off seven hits, struck out three and walked four.  Connor Holden pitched 2.0 innings, yielding two runs off four hits while striking out three.  Leam Mendez (1-0) earned win, pitching 2.0 innings, giving up one hit, struck out one and walked two.  Junior Cerda (1) earned the save, pitching 3.0 innings, giving up two runs off three hits, and struck out one.

Saltdogs’ starter Johnny Blake pitched 3.2 innings, giving up five runs off six hits, struck out four and walked two.  Gaylon Viney pitched 1.1 innings, yielding four runs off three hits, struck out three and walked one.  Matt Mullenbach (0-1) took the loss.  He pitched 1.0 inning and gave up five runs off four hits and struck out three.  Franny Cobos pitched 2.0 innings, gave up two runs off two hits, struck out three and walked two.  Jack Cone pitched 1.0 inning.

Offensively for Kansas City, Ross Adolf was 0-for-5 with an RBI.  Jorge Bonifacio was 3-for-5 with four runs batted in, and two home runs.  Isiah Gilliam was 5-for-5 and an RBI.  Robbie Glendinning was 3-for-5 with a home run and five runs batted in.  Jaylyn Williams was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI’s.  Josh Bissonette went 1-for-2 with a home run.

For Lincoln, Danny Bautista, Jr. was 2-for-6.  Yusniel Diaz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run.  Spencer Henson was 2-for-6.  Rolando Espinosa was 2-for-5 with an RBI.  Connor Denning went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs.  Kyle Battle was 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI’s.  Matt Phipps went 2-for-4 and drove in one run.

The two teams will play the second game of the series, Wednesday night at Haymarket Park.  First pitch is 7:05 p.m.  Karan Patel (0-2, 13.50 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln, while Kansas City will counter with Josh Hendrickson (1-0, 1.80 ERA).  First pitch is 7:05 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM, and online at www.kfornow.com.  Live video of the game will stream at:  www.aabaseball.tv.

Wednesday night’s game is “Wiener Wednesday”.  Fans can get $2 Fairbury Brand Hot Dogs, plus they can play “Baseball Bingo”, sponsored by Fairbury.  For tickets, merchandise and promotional information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.