Kansas City 8, Fargo-Moorhead 4 – Box Score
The Kansas City Monarchs took game one of the American Association Finals with an 8-4 win against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
Kansas City took the lead in the top of the first with three quick runs but the RedHawks responded with a pair of their own in the home half and they took the lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a two-RBI double from C Dylan Kelly (2-for-3).
The Monarchs moved back in front in the top of the fifth as 1B Casey Gillaspie hit an RBI single and LF Collin Willis (2-for-4) added RBI double to take 5-4 lead. In the sixth, Kansas City tacked on two more in the seventh as they scored on a wild pitch and Gillaspie added an RBI sac fly.
For the Monarchs, RF Gabriel Guerrero went 3-for-4 with a run scored and 2B Ryan Grotjohn went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs including a homer. For the RedHawks, LF Jordan George went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Starting pitcher Matt Hall earned the win as he worked six innings and allowed four earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters. Reliever Jeremy Rhoades worked the seventh and eighth without giving up a hit and striking out four and Jameson McGrane struck out two in the ninth to close things out.
Game two will take place tomorrow, Saturday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. before the AACS moves to Kansas City for game three (and four and five if necessary).
