Kansas City 14, Sioux City 2 – Box Score
The Kansas City Monarchs swept the Sioux City Explorers 3-0 in the South Division Championship Series after they took game three 14-2 in Sioux City on Monday evening.
The Monarchs outscored the Explorers 36-10 in the series.
On Monday night, the Monarchs took control right away as they posted six runs in the top of the first inning. Kansas City loaded up the bases and DH Ibandel Isabel (2-for-4) drew a walk to plate the first run of the game. LF Colin Willis (2-for-4) did the same in the next at-bat and CF Paulo Orlando (2-for-5) singled after that to score 1B Casey Gillaspie and Isabel. After a pitching change, C Alexis Olmeda (2-for-4) doubled to center to score Willis and Orlando to take a 6-0 lead.
The Monarchs tacked on six more in the third thanks to an RBI singles from Willis, 2B Ryan Grotjohn, 3B Darnell Sweeney (2-for-4), a two-RBI single from SS Morgan McCullough and an RBI bounce out from RF Gabriel Guerrero.
The Explorers found the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when LF Sebastian Zawada singled home 2B Nick Franklin and, in the fifth, 3B Jose Sermo singled to right field to score CF Michael Lang for Sioux City’s only other run of the game.
Sweeney added a two-run home run in top of the eighth to give the Monarchs the final cushion.
Starting pitcher Justin Donatella earned the deciding win in the series as he worked six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and striking out five batters.
The Monarchs advance to the American Association Championship Series where they will face the winner of the North Division Championship Series.
Chicago at Fargo-Moorhead – Postponed due to Rain
The game between the Chicago Dogs and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks was postponed due to rain. Game three of the series will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 14, with the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. The North Division Championship Series is currently tied 1-1.
The winner of the series will see the Kansas City Monarchs in the American Association Championship Series.