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Ledet, Hartman Rematch This Time Favors KC

Kansas City, KS (June 22, 2022) - The Kansas City Monarchs use a stellar performance from Matt Hartman to shut out the Sioux City Explorers 2-0 and take the first two games of a three game series. 

Last week Hartman and Patrick Ledet met in the final game of the three game series and it was Ledet who got the better of the pitchers duel with a 2-1 win. 

Tonight both pitchers again brought their best stuff but it was Kansas City who emerged victorious. 

Matt Hartman (1-2) earned the win with six shutout innings scattering five hits and two walks with a season high seven strikeouts. He did not allow multiple hits in the inning and the only extra base hit he allowed was to the final batter of the night he faced in Blake Tiberi in the seventh. 

Patrick Ledet (2-1) took the tough luck loss as he surrendered only two runs on just two hits across seven innings, he walked and struck out three. 

The Monarchs got to Ledet in the fourth when Joel Booker walked to lead off the inning. A single by Darnell Sweeney allowed the speedy Booker to go first to third. He scored on a Gaby Guerrero fielder’s choice. 

Booker again scored in the sixth. A one out walk was followed by a stolen base, he then scored on another Sweeney single to give the Monarchs their 2-0 lead. 

After the lead off double by Tiberi in the seventh, Kansas City’s bullpen finished off the shutout by not allowing a hit over the final three innings. The combination of Brandon Koch, Justin Donatella and Jameson McGrane (6) who struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save kept the X’s from threatening. 

Kansas City will go for the three game sweep on Thursday morning with first pitch scheduled for 11 am. Lefty Tom Windle (0-1, 3.37) takes the ball for Sioux City and right hander and Iowa native Nick Belzer (3-2, 4.39) will start for Kansas City.