Mike Jackson Jr. pitched beautifully in Sonoma's 9-3 win over the San Rafael Pacifics Tuesday. The righty allowed no earned runs on six hits in six sinnings while striking out five.
James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers
Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant
During batting practice, infielder Yuki Yasuda has been asked countless times if he was going hit a ‘Yuki Bomb’ in the game. Yasuda, being the humble and quiet man that he is would just smile back. He had never hit a homer in a Stomper uniform coming into today. It did not take long Tuesday for Yasuda to change that.
The Stompers used a much more patient approach at the plate and a great pitching performance from Mike Jackson Jr. to cruise to a game one victory over the Pacifics by the score of 9-3 to regain first place in the Pacific Association by themselves. Interestingly enough, Sonoma had not won a game played on a Tuesday this season.
In Sonoma’s loss Sunday to the Admirals, the Stompers were swinging at pitches out of the strike zone and it led to Sonoma only scoring two runs. It was a much different story tonight as the Stompers worked starter Patrick Barnett to 123 pitches in only 5 2/3 innings. Even Sonoma hitters that were retired scratched and clawed in their at bats and it paid off for them in the end. Barnett allowed five earned runs in the start.
Nothing went right for Mike Jackson Jr. in his last start in Pittsburg on June 22. The Diamonds hit him hard, the defense made errors behind him, and the game was out of control early. Tuesday, the veteran went to the mound with first place on the line and delivered with a fantastic outing. Jackson Jr. pitched six innings, allowing six hits and no earned runs while striking out five. He did the job and was rewarded with his third win of the season, improving to 3-2.
Jackson Jr. had his slider working tonight and used it as his kill pitch on many occasions. The pitch would seem like it was coming right over the plate and would drop at the last moment right off the table.
Jackson Jr. received support from his offense right out of the shoot as Yuki Yasuda hit a towering homer over the left field wall to give Sonoma the 1-0 lead. The Stompers offense did well at the plate despite the fact that they received little contribution from their third, fourth, and fifth hitters in the order. The trio went 0 for 13 for the game.
Mark Hurley had another solid night offensively finishing 3 for 5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Yuki Yasuda was the RBI leader with three and finished the game 2 for 4. Yasuda has the most hits (11) of any Stomper over the last seven days.
Sonoma is scheduled to hand the ball off to righty Jose Flores in game two of their road series against the Pacifics. Flores has started to turn the corner in his last two outings, and Sonoma has won in his last two starts. Sonoma (14-10) will look to extend its one game lead in the Pacific Association over the Pacifics (13-11) tomorrow night.
Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Fan merchandise and tickets are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information, contact the Stompers at info@stompersbaseball.com.