Darvill, Thomas help Goldeyes to win over Monarchs
Wes Darvill (Langley, B.C.) had a hit and an RBI to help the Vancouver Canadians to a 14-8 win over the Kansas City Monarchs on Friday. Photo: Winnipeg Goldeyes (file photo)
June 18, 2021
By Steve Schuster
Winnipeg Goldeyes
KANSAS CITY, KS – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (12-14) beat the Kansas City Monarchs 14-8 at Legends Field on Friday night.
Kansas City (15-11) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jan Hernandez popped a two-out, solo home run to left-centre.
The Goldeyes answered back in the top of the second. Singles from Kyle Martin and Raul Navarro, as well as a walk to Kevin Lachance, loaded the bases with no outs. Logan Hill ripped a single through the left side to plate Martin and Navarro and give Winnipeg a 2-1 lead.
Colin Willis crushed a solo home run to right with one out in the bottom of the second to tie the game.
The Goldeyes regained the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth. Logan Hill smacked a double to right-centre with one out and took third on a ground out to second from Wes Darvill (Langley, B.C.). On a two-strike count, Sonny Ulliana pulled a single to left that scored Hill with the go-ahead run. Tyler Hill extended the inning with a single up the middle, and the Goldeyes opened a 5-2 lead when Darren Seferina hit a two-run double to straightaway centre field.
The Monarchs pulled within 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, two-run double from Johnny Field.
Winnipeg re-extended the lead in the fifth on back-to-back two-out, RBI singles from Logan Hill and Darvill.
Seferina scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth, and the Goldeyes made it 9-4 later in the inning on a two-out, RBI infield single from Navarro.
Kansas City closed within one run again in the seventh when Morgan McCullough and Hernandez hit two-run home runs.
The Goldeyes then pushed back with four runs of their own in the eighth. After Tyler Hill singled up the middle leading off, two Monarchs’ errors loaded the bases with no outs. Martin ripped an RBI single to right, while Lachance brought home Seferina with an RBI groundout. Logan Hill capped the inning with a two-out, two-run double down the right field line. Hill tied a career-high with four base hits, and set a new career-high with five RBI.
The Goldeyes tacked on their 14th and final run in the top of the ninth on a two-out, RBI single from Martin who also tied a career-high with four base hits.
Both Max Murphy and Navarro extended their hitting streaks to 13 games.
Joey Gonzalez (2-2) started for the Goldeyes and picked up the win, allowing six earned runs on seven hits over six-plus innings. Gonzalez walked two and struck out five.
Jake Matthys (3-1) started for the Monarchs and took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in four and two-thirds innings. Matthys walked one and struck out three.
Kyle Thomas (Mississauga, Ont.) finished the game with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Game two of the three-game series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Mike Webb (0-0, 6.52) faces right-hander Jameson McGrane (0-1, 2.81).
The Goldeyes will continue to monitor the reopening of the Canada/US border and assess a potential return to Shaw Park in 2021.
In the coming weeks, Winnipeg Goldeyes staff will contact ticket holders with more information and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.