SONOMA, Calif- On a perfect Wednesday night at Arnold Field, the Sonoma Stompers took the field against the arch-rival San Rafael Pacifics who came in with the league’s best record of 7-2. The Stompers homered five times and hung on late to secure the 12-11 win over their rivals from the south.
San Rafael got on the board first against right-handed starter Konner Arnold (2-0). After two quick outs opened the ballgame, Arnold walked Axel Johnson and then back-to-back hits by Jimmy Lunardelli and Corey Dempster brought Johnson across for the first run.
The Stompers had to wait until the bottom of the second inning to answer offensively against Pacifics starter Tyler Skinner. A leadoff walk to Chris Kwitzer brought Brock Hartley to the plate who delivered an RBI triple to right center, tying the game 1-1. Jacob Barfield then grounded out to second base, driving in Hartley, giving the Stompers their first lead of the game.
San Rafael tied the game in the top half of the third inning when Dante Biagini was driven in by a Jimmy Lunardelli single to knot the game 2-2.
In the bottom half Pedro Barrios led off with a walk and Rob DeAngelis followed with a two-run home run to right field, his first of the year, putting the Stompers back out in front 4-2. Dondrei Hubbard immediately followed with his fourth home run of the season, going back-to-back with DeAngelis, extending the lead 5-2.
Arnold allowed one more run in the top of the sixth inning and finished the night allowing three runs, only two earned, on six hits while striking out five in six innings of work, lining himself up for his second win in as many starts.
The Stompers answered once again in the bottom half of the sixth inning on a Daniel Molinari solo home run to left field, his first of the season.
San Rafael added one in the top of the seventh on a Johnson RBI double to bring them within two, 6-4.
The Stompers offense exploded in the last of the seventh inning, adding two more home runs. Hubbard hit his second home run of the game to left center field, a three-run homer this time. Barfield followed with a three-run blast of his own to cap off the six-run seventh for the Stompers who jumped out to a 12-4 lead.
Miles Williams made his 2019 debut on the mound in the top of the eighth inning but allowed six Pacifics runs, putting them right back in the game. Williams lasted only 2/3 of an inning and was relieved by Ryan Richardson who got Lunardelli to ground out and end the threat but the Pacifics were back in it 12-10.
Jacob Cox entered in the top of the ninth inning to try and collect his second save of the season in as many tries. He gave up a solo home run to Dempster to lead off the inning but stranded the tying run at second base to secure the win and his second save.
The Stompers are back at Arnold Field Thursday and Friday night, first pitch at 6:05.