Kenny Meimerstorf watches his double land down the right field line in the Sonoma Stompers’ game against the Martinez Clippers, July 24, 2018 in Martinez, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
BOX SCORE
MARTINEZ, Calif. – After the Sonoma Stompers best offensive weekend of the season unfolded in Vallejo, with 11-5 and 13-12 wins, the bats fell silent Tuesday against the Martinez Clippers, who shut out the Stompers for the first time this season, 2-0.
Juan Espinosa made his ninth start of the season, possibly his best so far in 2018, but the lack of run support caused him to take his first loss of the year.
Six hits over the first two innings resulted in two Clippers runs, but Espinosa held Martinez silent after the second with five shutout innings over his final five innings. The right-hander did not walk a batter in seven innings and struck out six.
Ryan Richardson’s perfect eighth inning was enough to keep Sonoma in the ballgame, but the Stompers could only manage four hits in the game, none of which translated to runs.
Mitchell Ho and Marcus Bradley singled in the fifth, then Daniel Comstock and Kenny Meimerstorf reached base in the eighth with hits, but that was all the team could muster in nine innings.
Bradley’s single extended his hit streak to five games, the longest active such streak for Stomper hitters. Comstock’s stretch of 13 straight games with a hit earlier this year is still the longest this season, however the catcher has reached base in 42 consecutive games with his single.
The Stompers and Clippers rematch Wednesday as Sonoma looks for a series split, 6:30 is the scheduled first pitch.