Published on September 15, 2026 under American Association (AA)
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks News Release
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks outfielder Dillon Thomas
(Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Credit: Kaedan Fischer)
FARGO – After an hour-long rain delay to start the evening, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks fell 6-4 to the Kansas City Monarchs in Game 1 of the West Division Championship Series on Monday evening at Newman Outdoor Field.
Dillon Thomas hit the RedHawks’ first playoff grand slam since 2021, but Kansas City responded with three runs over the final three innings to seal a 1-0 series lead.
Patrick Wicklander made the start for Fargo-Moorhead, tossing five innings and allowing three runs. Wicklander fanned five Monarchs, the sixth straight start he’s punched out five or more batters. Eric Filia, Jose Sermo and Thomas all collected two hits at the plate for the RedHawks.
The Monarchs jumped out to an early lead in the first off Wicklander. Three of the first four batters smacked doubles enroute to a 2-0 lead.
Kansas City tacked on a third run in the third when Austin Callahan lifted a sacrifice fly to drive in Tyler Gentry.
The game was flipped on its head in the sixth inning. Eric Filia singled on a ground ball to center, then Jose Sermo ripped a double down the third base line to put runners on second and third. Tripp Clark worked a four-pitch walk to chase Kansas City starter Thaddeus Ward from the game.
Three pitches later, Thomas crushed a 413-foot grand slam over the wall in right field to take a 4-3 lead.
That slam by Thomas was the first in the postseason for the RedHawks since 2021. The last was a seventh-inning bomb by John Silviano in Game 5 of the 2021 North Division Championship Series that sealed a victory over the Chicago Dogs.
After a leadoff triple by Sahid Valenzuela in the seventh, Hudson Head ripped a groundball to first to bring in the tying run.
Against Mason Pelio in the eighth, Luken Baker smoked a 434-foot fly ball to left field, giving the Monarchs the lead for good.
Kansas City then tacked on an insurance run in the ninth off of Tyler Jeans.
The RedHawks got two runners on in the bottom of the ninth. Juan Fernandez and Eric Filia both worked walks to bring the winning run to the plate. After a Jose Sermo popout and a Tripp Clark strikeout, Durbin Feltman struck out Thomas on three pitches to end the game.
The RedHawks aim to even the series against the Monarchs in Game 2 on Tuesday. First pitch at Newman Outdoor Field is set for 6:30 p.m.
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