League-leading Kansas City Monarchs showed mettle in comeback victory over RedHawks

Carter Woodiel
·2 min read

Eighth inning, down 4-0 against the reigning champs, in the middle of the longest road trip of the season.

It’s not a scenario that would typically inspire confidence. But the Kansas City Monarchs found some anyway.

“We think that we can come back at any time. We trust each other,” Monarchs infielder Olivier Basabe said. “We know we’re good, so we’ll be okay.”

Kansas City came back to win that game 6-5 in a thrilling 10 innings to finish off their seventh straight win and a sweep of the RedHawks. It’s helped them to the American Association’s best record at 22-11.

ONE-RUN WINNERS

Kansas City is a league-best 8-1 in one-run games this season. They’ve won their last eight such games.

That includes three wins over the past week: extra-inning triumphs Tuesday and Thursday at Fargo-Moorhead and a comeback win at Chicago Sunday.

Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra says leadership in the clubhouse is a key component to the team’s winning culture.

“The voice of the manager really doesn’t mean much, I hate to say, without the will of the players,” Calfapietra said. “They have to buy in and want to win.”

ROAD WARRIORS

Monday is the final game of a brutal 12-day, 10-game road swing for Kansas City. The trip covers 2,191 miles and about 33 hours of bus travel from Winnipeg to Fargo to Chicago and back again.

Still, the Monarchs keep winning. They’re 7-2 on the trip entering Monday night’s 6:30 p.m. game with Chicago. Kansas City will look to split the four-game set with a win Monday.

For Basabe and the Monarchs, the thought process moving forward is simple.

“Get back tomorrow, tie the series, then get back home and get that series too,” Basabe said.

IMPORTANT HOMESTAND

Three American Association teams have faced the Monarchs in a regular-season series and not lost. Two of those teams come to Legends Field this week.

The Monarchs face Sioux City Tuesday through Thursday. The Explorers swept KC as part of an 8-1 start to the season, but have faltered lately and will enter the three-game set at 15-19. Tuesday is the Monarchs’ annual Pride Night game, starting at 7 p.m.

The Dogs head to Legends Field for a rematch over the weekend, kicking off with Cap Night on Friday at 7 p.m. The Dogs are currently second in the East Division with a 17-16 record.