Derrick Fox and the Stompers offense scored 13 runs for the second consecutive night in a 13-1 win over the Pacifics Wednesday. Fox was 2 for 4 with three runs batted in.
James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers
Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant
This pivotal series could not have begun much better Tuesday for the home team. The Sonoma Stompers set the tone for their series against San Rafael, and the question then became what Sonoma would do for an encore Wednesday at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. Sonoma put their first half struggles against the Pacifics far in the rearview Wednesday with another stellar offensive performance. For their third straight game, the Stompers scored over 10 runs and won their sixth consecutive game in convincing fashion, blowing out the Pacifics, 13-1.
For the second straight night, Sonoma’s offense was able to put crooked numbers on the board across multiple innings. Sonoma scored five runs in both the fourth and seventh innings, with their initial five-run barrage putting them ahead for good. Derrick Fox, Joel Carranza, and Daniel Baptista all performed well, going a combined 6 for 12 with six runs driven in. Fox was tied for the team lead in runs batted with three and finished the game 2 for 4. Baptista has had multiple hits in six of his last seven games and finished 2 for 5. The offense has come alive at the right time for the stretch run in the final month of the season.
“As a team we all now have an approach when we are coming to the plate. We have a plan for every at bat and we are not just going up there swinging,” said hitting coach Joel Carranza. “It took us a while to find our approach but now everybody is clicking on all cylinders. This is the time to do it because we need to win these games coming down the stretch. Our offense has done a great job and our pitching has been just as good.”
Mike Jackson Jr. continued his fantastic season with his eighth win of the season, as he now has the most wins of any pitcher in the Pacific Association and is 5-0 in his last five starts. Jackson Jr. pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts. “Jackson Jr. has been going out there with a bulldog mentality on the mound,” said Carranza. “All of us are working hard every day to win a ring. We want to bring a Pacific Association championship back home to Sonoma.”
Thursday night’s series finale against the Pacifics (35-27, 14-9 second half) has become a very important game for the Stompers (36-26, 13-10 second half). A win would mean that they would be tied for the lead in the second half standings in the Pacific Association with San Rafael. The finale is set to be a great matchup as Taylor Thurber (5-5, 2.77 ERA) will face off against the veteran Celson Polanco (5-3, 4.50 ERA). Polanco is 4-0 in four starts against the Stompers this season, and Thurber is 4-2 as a starter this season. Sonoma once trailed the Pacifics by five games in the second half standings; a win would completely erase that deficit with 15 games left in the season.
Tickets for upcoming Stompers games are available on stompersbaseball.com. Fan gear, and tickets are also available inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information about the team contact the Stompers front office at info@stompersbaseball.com.