Finnegan Gets First Win, Monarchs Clinch Series
Published on May 20, 2023 under American Association (AA)
Kansas City Monarchs News Release
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Brandon Finnegan got the win in his Kansas City Monarchs home debut, but the Monarchs bullpen stole the show and sealed a 5-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries.
The Monarchs' second home game was a fun one, featuring a back-and-forth battle at the plate early on.
Monarchs fan favorite Jan Hernandez continued to show why he was a Player of the Year candidate the last two seasons. The first baseman got the Monarchs on the board with an RBI double in inning number one. Chris Herrmann would add onto the total with an RBI single scoring Hernandez making it 2-0 Monarchs after one inning.
The Canaries stormed back in the second inning, scoring three runs. Trevor Achenbach drove in the first on a bases-loaded hit by pitch. A sacrifice fly from Marshall Rich that scored Hunter Clanin and an Ozzie Martinez RBI single that scored Jordan Barth put Sioux Falls up 3-2.
Brandon Finnegan settled in by the third inning and the Monarchs bats stayed active. Chris Herrmann kept the line moving with a base hit to move the runners and Gavin Collins did the job with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Hernandez and we were all tied up.
The final exclamation point for the Monarchs offense came from none other than Hernandez on an RBI single that scored L.J. Hatch. Hernandez was then picked off stealing second base but he set up an easy hustle play for left fielder Jacob Robson to sprint home and that made it 5-3 Monarchs.
Finnegan went five innings and allowed three runs, striking out three without walking a batter.
The Kansas City bullpen was locked in after that. Jordan Martinson faced nine batters and sat down every one of them in three innings of work. Patrick Weigel closed the door on Sioux Falls and retired all three batters he faced.
Finnegan got the win (1-0) in his second start of the season, D.J. Sharabi got the loss (0-2) and Patrick Weigel picked up his first save of the year and the first save of the season for the Monarchs.
The Monarchs 5-3 victory marked the first series win on the year for KC and moved them to 3-5 on the season overall.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs continue their home slate with the final game of their series against the Sioux Falls Canaries, series finale scheduled for 6 p.m.
American Association Stories from May 20, 2023
- Xs Edge Cougars in Xtras - Sioux City Explorers
- Finnegan Gets First Win, Monarchs Clinch Series - Kansas City Monarchs
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- Early Offense, Lockdown Pitching Propel RailCats to Victory - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Dogs Win Fourth Straight Behind Dominant Pitching - Chicago Dogs
- Late Cougars' Rally Comes Up Short - Kane County Cougars
- 'Dogs Drop Game Two vs. RailCats - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Birds Fall to Monarchs in Battle of Bullpens - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Lidge Mashes First Home Run of 2023, Dogs Edge Fargo-Moorhead, 4-2 - Chicago Dogs
- What a Night for Grosshans - Lake Country DockHounds
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