Taylor Thurber pitched six and two-thirds innings of one-run, three-hit ball in the Sonoma Stompers' 7-1 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds at Winter Chevrolet Stadium on Wednesday. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
PITTSBURG, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, stayed atop the Pacific Association standings with a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds on Wednesday.
Bolstered by three Stompers runs in the top of the first, Sonoma starter Taylor Thurber pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits in that span.
“We’re trying to come out with a lot of momentum and when your team explodes with three runs in the first inning, you’ve got to come out with that same intensity,” Thurber said.
Thurber’s only blemish was a solo home run by Wes Wallace in the sixth, the Diamonds’ only run on the night and the third hit on Thurber’s watch. Through six, the Stompers out-hit the Diamonds 13-3.
“(Thurber) brought a great effort tonight, he kept us in the game. We had complete comfort when he went out there today that he was going to get us outs and get us a W today,” said shortstop Derrick Fox.
Fox recorded a hit in each of his first three at bats, one of those being a fourth-inning home run. He and Joel Carranza went back to back in that frame, knocking two balls over the fence to start the inning. Scott David also delivered on offense, recording three hits and driving in a run.
While the Stompers remained in solid control of the game at Winter Chevrolet Stadium, the Vallejo Admirals took an early 5-1 lead over the San Rafael Pacifics and never relinquished it.
With Vallejo and Sonoma remaining tied at first in the Pacific Association standings, a potential one-game playoff depends on the outcome of Thursday’s game. If the two teams finish tied for first, the Admirals win the second half due to a better head-to-head second half record.
“There’s always the possibility we could lock it down tomorrow so we of course want to come in with a lot of intensity, lots of energy, finish strong and then if it goes to the one-game playoff get us a victory to keep us rolling into it and keep that momentum,” Thurber said.
Tickets and merchandise for a potential Championship Game at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark on Friday at 7:05 are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.