The Sonoma Stompers celebrate after clinching the Pacific Association first half title for the third year in a row with a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
Hayley M. Slye / Director of Media Relations
SONOMA, Calif.– Not everything went their way Wednesday night, but the the Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, turned adversity into a 6-5 victory to secure the Pacific Association first-half pennant, their third one in a row.
Sonoma headed to extras on a strike out, throw out double play. In the tenth, manager Takashi Miyoshi put a double-steal play on with two outs. It worked again–his signature play gave Sonoma the 6-3 lead.
“We have to stick to our strengths. (That play) is our signature, and it worked out. I’m just really happy,” Miyoshi said.
Jacob Cox closed the game, earning the save for the second day in a row. The team crowded around Cox at the mound after the last out of the game, cheering and popping champange.
"How many jobs do you get to have that you get to celebrate victories like this?" said Stompers president and general manager Theo Fightmaster. "In that sense, it's really rewarding, in that sense, it doesn't get old... The person who should get most of the credit if not all of the credit is Yoshi."
Sonoma faced Pittsburg starter Travis Blackley, who last pitched in the Major Leagues for the Houston Astros in 2013.
Blackley allowed just one Sonoma run until the seventh, when Eddie Mora-Loera slid into home on a Yuki Yasuda sac bunt and Matt Hibbert drove in the second run of the frame to give the Stompers a two-run lead.
A two-run home run from Javier Marticorena evened the score in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Richardson retired the side after the knock, but it remained a 3-3 game until extras.
The Stompers took their first lead in the third inning on a Brennan Metzger ground ball. A ball off the bat of Yuki Yasuda earlier in the inning would have been a three-run homer, but was called foul.
The Diamonds tied the game in the bottom of that frame also. Pittsburg struck for six hits off of Plaza through six, managing two runs.
“Pittsburg is definitely an upgraded team,” Miyoshi said. “They are one of the best teams, so we really have to keep up, study them, just get prepared and play hard.”
With the victory, the Stompers improve to 25-10 on the season and ensure themselves a spot in the Pacific Association championship game at the end of the year. If the Stompers also secure the second-half title, there is no championship game and Sonoma is the outright champion.
“I’m trying to get better, just like the players. I’m trying to prepare every day that I can. I’m not a ‘great’ yet, but I’m just trying to be,” Miyoshi said. “We won the first half title, but it’s not the championship yet. Tomorrow, I’m just coming back and staying hungry, staying aggressive.”
THREE-PEAT PROMOTION
To celebrate with their fans, the Stompers are offering a trio of promotions through the weekend. With promo code “3PEAT,” fans can receive 30 percent off tickets online for the Stompers’ next homestand, July 14-16. The promo code cannot be used at the fan shop or at the box office.
2016 Pacific Association Championship merchandise is 30 percent off in the fan shop and at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark through the weekend. This promotion is not applicable online.
Stompers fans at the ballpark Friday through Sunday can also purchase $3 Coors Light on draft through the first three innings of all three games of the series.
STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.
For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.