Ethan Gibbons delivers a pitch in the second inning of the Sonoma Stompers’ game against the Martinez Clippers, July 26, 2018 in Martinez, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers rebounded well after being shut out Tuesday with a shutout of their own Wednesday, as Ethan Gibbons delivered his best start of the season to lead the Stompers to a 8-0 win over the Martinez Clippers.
Making his 10th start of the season, Gibbons dominated all night long, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out 12 batters. His strikeout total tied the Stompers record for strikeouts in a game by one pitcher, a mark that had been met five previous times, most recently by 2017 Pacific Association Pitcher of the Year Tyler Garkow on July 14, 2017.
For the first time this season, Gibbons pitched eight full innings, issuing his only walk of the game in his final inning of work.
“I’m glad we were able to get the shutout and get the win,” Gibbons said. “Today I finally found my changeup, it’s the last pitch that comes when you’re getting back into a season and today I was able to find that and able to throw my fastball a lot of that and it worked well for me.”
It took a couple of innings for the Stompers’ bats to get rolling, but they did in the fourth when Kenny Meimerstorf connected for his 15th home run of the season, a two-run shot that scored Daniel Comstock.
Miles Williams singled home Marcus Bradley in the sixth, then Sonoma added insurance in the ninth inning. The Stompers showed patience and drew five walks to score five runs and stretch their lead to 8-0.
Now 31-17 on the season and winners of 14 of their last 18 games, the Stompers look to stay hot as they take on the Napa Silverados for two games beginning Thursday.