Monarchs Edge Sluggers in Saturday Twinbill
SOUTHGATE, MI — The Flag City Sluggers hit a rough patch across state lines on Saturday afternoon, dropping both halves of a doubleheader to the Michigan Monarchs at Anderson High School.
The Monarchs took advantage of self-inflicted damage from the Sluggers' pitching staff and defense, capturing the opener 4-3 before a massive early avalanche led to a 17-1 run-rule decision in the nightcap. The two defeats move Flag City to 18-19 overall on the summer.
Game 1: Monarchs 4, Sluggers 3
The opening game of the twinbill was a tight, seven-inning affair that came down to the wire. Flag City struck back from an early deficit to jump ahead 3-1 across the third and fourth frames. Braden Sprague drove in Cameron Spezia with an RBI double, and Drew Tajblik manufactured a run to give the Sluggers the upper hand.
However, unearned runs proved to be the difference. Michigan scored two in the third and added the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Emmanuel Gutierrez.
Sluggers starter Julius Robichaud (1-2) took a tough-luck loss despite a solid effort, striking out five and allowing just two earned runs over 5.1 innings. The real story was Michigan reliever Owen Shimel, who entered in the fifth and completely slammed the door, throwing 3.0 hitless innings to secure the save and hold off Flag City's offense.
Game 2: Monarchs 17, Sluggers 1
The second game of the day got out of hand quickly, as the Monarchs' bats exploded alongside a difficult afternoon for Flag City's pitching command.
Michigan blew the game wide open by sending waves of hitters to the plate in the second and third innings, scoring nine and seven runs respectively. The Sluggers' pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone, combining for 12 walks, six wild pitches, and two hit batters over the six innings played.
Caden Otterbacher (0-1) was saddled with the loss in his start. Offensively, the Sluggers collected seven hits—including multi-hit games from Tajblik and Spezia—but could only muster a single run in the fifth inning when Tajblik singled home Jimmy LaForce.
Monarchs starter Emmanuel Gutierrez (2-0) earned the win, keeping Flag City at bay by scattering six hits over 6.0 strong innings before the run-rule brought an early end to the evening.
Key Team Stats
Flag City Sluggers (Combined Doubleheader)
Drew Tajblik (LF/CF): 2-for-8, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2B
Cameron Spezia (RF): 3-for-6, 2 SB, R
Braden Sprague (C): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI (Game 1)
Michigan Monarchs (Combined Doubleheader)
JJ Fontana (2B/C): 2-for-5, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Cole Novara (CF): 2-for-7, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Evan Morrison (1B): 3 RBI (Game 2)
Up Next
The Sluggers will look to finish the first game of the series from Friday in Michigan on Sunday at 1:35pm.. The Sluggers are leading the Monarchs 2-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
