Kenny Mathews delivers a pitch in the first inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Vallejo Admirals, August 14, 2018 in Vallejo, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
BOX SCORE
VALLEJO, Calif. – Looking to get back on track after a loss Sunday, the Sonoma Stompers scored early and rode a fantastic start from Kenny Mathews into a 5-2 victory over the Vallejo Admirals.
Mathews, making his fifth start with the Stompers, retired the first 17 Vallejo batters he faced, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning.
“We had something special going there,” Mathews said. “We were keeping it simple, getting ahead of guys … The defense made plays, we executed two-strike pitches and you get good results that way.”
While the Admirals struck for two hits and a run with two outs in the sixth, then added on one in the seventh, Mathews still still struck out 11 in the game, while not allowing any walks. Seven of these walks came consecutively between the first and third innings.
The Stompers offense backed their starter early with a three-run third inning, with Kenny Meimerstorf driving in Kevin Farley and Daniel Baptista scoring Kam Stewart.
Meimerstorf scored with two outs and the Stompers added insurance in the fourth with Rob DeAngelis singling home Ryan Cooper and the seventh when Stewart singled in Farley.
D.J. Sharabi pitched a scoreless eighth inning, with two strikeouts and Jacob Cox closed things down in the ninth with ease, striking out two to earn his 20th save of the year.
The Stompers look for the sweep when they return to Wilson Park to face the Admirals Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.