(KNFL/KFGO) – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks’ unbeaten playoff run came to an end Monday evening as they lost Game 1 of the West Division Championship Best-of-5 series against the Kansas City Monarchs, with a final score of 6-4, despite a jaw-dropping Grand Slam effort from the RedHawks’ Dillon Thomas. Fargo-Moorhead’s Patrick Wicklander would start on the mound, facing off against former Major League Baseball pitcher Thaddeus Ward, who started for Kansas City.
After a 1-hour, 7-minute rain delay, a slippery Newman Outdoor Field would seemingly provide a boost to the visiting Monarchs, as designated hitter Luken Baker would launch a fly ball towards right fielder Matt Kroon in the 1st inning, but Kroon lost his footing, allowing a run to score to give the Monarchs the lead early.
A Saul Garza double in that same inning would supply the Monarchs with a 2-0 advantage. Austin Callahan would extend the lead to 3-0 in the top of the 3rd with a Sacrifice Fly RBI.
The fourth, fifth, and top of the sixth innings would see the score remain 3-0, but it was Fargo-Moorhead’s Dillon Thomas in the bottom of the sixth that would change the framework of this playoff game. Up 2-0 in the at bat, Thomas had newly inserted pitcher Jack Walker on his back foot. With the bases loaded, Thomas sent a deep fly ball over the right field wall, flipping the contest on its head, with the scoreboard reflecting 4-3 in the RedHawks’ favor heading into the top of the 7th inning.
Kansas City refused to let that be the game-deciding play. Beginning in the top of the 7th, the Monarchs would begin a run that lasted until the final out. A Hudson Head force-out RBI tied the game up at 4-4, Luken Baker would supply a towering solo home run in the 8th to take the lead, and Tyler Gentry would swing the knockout punch with an RBI single in the 9th inning to bring KC’s advantage to 6-4.
This lead would prove too high of a mountain to climb for Fargo-Moorhead as Dillon Thomas would go down swinging for the deciding 27th out, unable to replicate his performance at the plate from earlier in the evening. Kansas City would win the game, and take a 1-0 series lead, by a score of 6-4.
RedHawks starter Patrick Wicklander would go 5.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, walking 1 and striking out 5. Reliever Mason Pelio would take the loss, to bring his postseason record to 1-1.
Monarchs starter Thaddeus Ward would pitch 5.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits as well, while walking 1 and striking out 7. Relief Pitcher Emmanuel Chapman would earn the win, and closer Durbin Feltman would earn the save for his team.
Fargo-Moorhead will return to Newman Outdoor Field for Game 2 of the Miles Wolff Cup West Division Championship Series against the Kansas City Monarchs on Tuesday, September 15th. Pregame coverage begins at 6:10pm on 740AM/107.3FM The FAN, 740the FAN.com, and on The FAN mobile App.
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