Kansas City fans left the ballpark with plenty to cheer about after the Monarchs closed out a four-game series with a 5-2 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders on Thursday night.
What changed for local fans
The win gives the Monarchs the series and sustained momentum at home as they look to build consistency during the summer stretch. Early offense and length from the starting rotation limited a Railroaders club that arrived in town riding a strong streak.
The Monarchs broke through early. In the third inning, Grant Richardson reached on an infield single and Brady Lindsly followed with a base hit to set the stage for Nick Martini, who lined a run-scoring single to the first-base side to open the scoring. JD Davis added a groundout RBI to extend the lead, and Luken Baker drove in another with an RBI double as Kansas City pushed in three runs that frame.
- Key hitters: Grant Richardson, Nick Martini and Luken Baker drove the early offense.
- Pitching: Jimmy Endersby lasted 6.1 innings, allowing two runs with six strikeouts; Jeff Hakanson and Tyler Myrick handled later innings.
- Final score: Monarchs 5, Railroaders 2 — Monarchs win the four-game set.
The Monarchs added two more runs in the fourth when Richardson and Valenzuela drew walks and Martini delivered a fly ball to left-center that scored both baserunners, giving Kansas City a 5-0 advantage.
Cleburne mounted a response in the fifth inning. Jonny Barditch and Mallex Smith reached to open the frame, and subsequently Cole Foster grounded out to score Barditch. Later in the inning, Caleb McNeely lined a hit down the third-base line to plate the Railroaders’ second run.
Pitching held up
Starter Jimmy Endersby turned in his seventh start of the season and worked 6.1 innings while surrendering two runs and recording six strikeouts. Relief work from Jeff Hakanson and Tyler Myrick preserved the lead; Hakanson finished the eighth with a pair of strikeouts during a bases-loaded situation.
“(Was) just trying to get the ball in the zone. (It was) not ideal to create the bases loaded situation... Just trusting my stuff and getting out of the jam,”
Hakanson said after the game that coaching input and calming infield talk helped him settle into the outing.
| Player | Stat/Note |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Endersby | 6.1 IP, 2 R, 6 K |
| Luken Baker | RBI double; described himself as swinging well |
| Nick Martini | Two-run contribution (single, sac fly) |
Cleburne had entered the series with 11 victories in their previous 12 games, making the Monarchs’ series win a notable result against hot competition. For Kansas City, the performance underlines the team’s ability to manufacture early offense and rely on a starter who can go deep into games.
Fans can expect the Monarchs to build on this win as the season progresses, with local attendance and community support likely buoyed by the team’s timely hitting and dependable mound outings.
