Stacy Piagno takes the mound during Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Vallejo Admirals at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
Hayley M. Slye / Director of Media Relations
SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, sunk back into a first-place tie with a 6-2 loss to the Vallejo Admirals on Saturday.
Stompers starter Juan Espinosa struck out six in six innings, allowing four earned runs. In relief, Stacy Piagno contributed two innings of scoreless ball, extending a nine-inning scoreless streak to 11.
“Between knowing the hitters and just being confident in myself, both physically and mentally, I think that’s what has made me successful,” Piagno said. “Now that I’m able to continue getting innings I’m just getting more confident and more confident”
Entering to a rousing ovation from the fans, Piagno’s only blemishes were a walk and a single from Nick Akins, Sr.
“She knows herself. She knows what she wants to do with hitters and she attacks them where they’re weak,” said center fielder Matt Hibbert. “It doesn’t matter who you are–Girl, boy, tall, short, whatever. She knows her approach and she sticks with it and that’s why she’s successful.”
Demetrius Banks, the Admirals’ crafty left-hander, pitched seven innings of five-hit, one-run ball and picked up the win. His lone earned run came off the bat of Hibbert, and went over the outfield fence. Hibbert notched the only multi-hit night for the Stompers.
Most of the game’s offense came by way of the long ball, as both Tillman Pugh and Shawn Payne hit dingers for the Admirals. Pugh and Payne were responsible for four of the Admirals’ six runs on the night.
On defense, Stompers right fielder Matt LoCoco made two excellent catches in right, firing up the crowd at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark.
The Stompers fall to 45-22 on the season, 17-11 in the second half while Vallejo improves to 29-39, 17-11. The series-deciding game is scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m.
“We know it’s going to be a grind down the stretch. Vallejo is a really good team right now and we’re right there with them,” Hibbert said. “We just have to treat every game like a one-game playoff.”
DON’T MISS THE LAST STOMPERS HOME GAME
Sunday’s contest is also the last Stompers home game of 2017, when the team will host FOX KTVU 2 for a helicopter flyover to promote their exciting new lineup of Fall shows. The event is part of the FOX Fall Fan Fest and will promote “Ghosted,” “The Gifted” and “The Orville.”
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets are also available at the box office.
For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.