The Kansas City Monarchs continued their early-season dominance on Wednesday, defeating the Winnipeg Goldeyes 8-7, powered by three home runs from Ryan Leitch, Ross Adolph, and Isiah Gilliam. The victory keeps the Monarchs unbeaten at 5-0 and extends their league-leading home run total to 11.
Catcher Ryan Leitch ignited the Monarchs’ offense in the second inning, launching his first home run of the season — a high fly ball that cleared the Home Run Patio wall — to put Kansas City ahead 3-0.
“It felt pretty good,” Leitch said postgame. “I’ve been working on timing up fastballs. They gave me one, and I hit it hard.”
Just three pitches later, Ross Adolph, one of the team’s top power hitters, followed with a 410-foot shot to right field, pushing the Monarchs’ lead to 4-0. It marked the second instance of back-to-back home runs for Kansas City in the 2025 campaign.
On the mound, Josh Hendrickson delivered an impressive return to professional baseball. The former Phillies prospect pitched five strong innings, allowing just one run — a solo homer by Winnipeg’s Ray-Patrick Didder.
“He’s always been a guy I’ve wanted to catch,” Leitch said of Hendrickson. “He can locate all five of his pitches for strikes.”
Leitch continued his strong offensive performance with an RBI single in the fifth inning, a 104-mph line drive that extended the Monarchs’ lead to 5-1.
“I’m just trying to contribute in every way I can. It’s a team effort,” Leitch added.
Winnipeg (1-5) mounted a comeback in the seventh inning, capitalizing on two Kansas City throwing errors to cut the deficit to 5-4. However, reliever Connor Holden thwarted the rally, stranding the tying run at third and later striking out the side in the eighth inning.
Isiah Gilliam provided crucial insurance in the bottom of the seventh. The Monarchs’ cleanup hitter crushed a three-run home run, a 418-foot blast to the deepest part of Legends Field, giving Kansas City an 8-4 cushion.
Despite a late push from Winnipeg — highlighted by Didder’s second home run of the game — closer Tyler McKay shut the door, striking out Max Murphy to preserve the win.
With the victory, the Monarchs remain perfect and sit atop the American Association standings.
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