Daniel Baptista was one of three Stompers with three hits or more in Sonoma's 8-5 win over the Pacifcs. Baptista was 3 for 6 with a homer and three driven in.
James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers
Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant
The Stompers came to San Rafael with a newfound swagger Friday night. Sonoma began the second half slowly by losing two of the first three series they played. However, the Stompers bounced back with a series win against the Pacifics to begin this week. Sonoma’s offense carried that momentum into Friday with a 16-hit performance in the Stompers 8-5 win over the Pacifics.
Sonoma’s offense was balanced through the lineup as five Stompers finished with two hits or more in the game. Derrick Fox, Randy Santiesteban, and Daniel Baptista all had three hits or more on the night. Santiesteban has taken the Pacific Association by storm in the first two games he hasplayed with the Stompers. He has six hits and six runs driven in only two games, and he finished Friday’s game 4 for 5 with a home run and four driven in. Fox was on base five times for the second consecutive night and finished 3 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored.
Baptista had an impressive at bat in the eighth as he launched his third home run of the season over the left field wall. Baptista finished 3 for 6 with three runs batted in. The second-year player went the other way with the pitch on the outside part of the plate, showing he was up to the challenge when the pitch came. “They have been pounding me with pitches on the outside all season long,” Baptista said. “I was looking for a fastball and when I got the pitch I was looking for on the outer half, I trusted my instincts and decided to go the other way.
Jose Flores continued his outstanding success in a late inning role by recording his third save, retiring the final eight outs to do so. Flores allowed only one hit and struck out three to finish things off, and in his five appearances out of the bullpen, he has a 1.25 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
Sonoma (29-23, 6-7 second half) will send Taylor Thurber to the mound to try to keep the momentum going against the Pacifics (29-23, 8-5 second half). Thurber has been nothing short of brilliant since being moved into the rotation, having gone the distance in two straight starts while featuring the second lowest ERA in the Pacific Association at 2.60.
Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Tickets and fan gear are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information on the team contact the front office at info@stompersbaseball.com.