SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers were able to get past Brandon Phillips and the Vallejo Admirals in a win that surely everyone in the lineup contributed to as they beat the Admirals 10-7.
Konner Arnold (4-0) has been a vital part of the 2019 Stompers starting rotation that has thrived in the month of June. He retired the Admirals in order in the first, including a Brandon Phillips flyout, lowering his heartrate and allowing him to finally breathe.
The Stompers got on the board first in the bottom of the 1stinning on a rather whacky play. On a 1-1 pitch, Miles Williams scorched a triple over the head of Chevy Clarke in centerfield. On the relay throw in, Tillman Pugh’s throw went wide of third base and out of play, allowing Williams to score and open the scoring 1-0.
Vallejo answered in the top of the second on a Wilkyns Jimenez 2-run mammoth homerun to left-center on the first pitch he saw of the 2019 season, putting the Admirals ahead 2-1.
The Stompers offense got to work against Jesse Remington (1-2) in the bottom half of the 2nd. Brent Gillespie led off the inning with a single into center and advanced to second on an error by Clarke in centerfield. Daniel Molinari then drove him in with an RBI single to right, tying the game 2-2. Walks to Nick Kern and Nick Gotta loaded the bases for Williams who hit a sacrifice fly to score Molinari and giving the Stompers the 3-2 lead. A Rob DeAngelis single loaded the bases for Dondrei Hubbard who destroyed a grand slam to left, blowing it open 7-2.
Vallejo tacked on two in the top of the 3rdon a Tillman Pugh solo shot and a Clarke RBI double, closing the gap 7-4.
The lead got narrower in the top of the 5th when Vlad Gomez hit a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5. Then even closer in the top of the 6thon Brandon Phillips’ RBI single to center, closing the Stompers lead 7-6.
Alex Leach was the 4thman to pitch for PJ Phillips and with a 0.00 ERA he has been unhittable, until now. The Stompers relentless offense collected 4 hits off of Leach including a Molinari RBI double to left, and a DeAngelis 2-run double to left, capping off a 3-run 7thand knocking Leach out after just 1/3 of an inning. Tyler Herr came in an slammed the door but the damage had already been done as the Stompers led 10-6 after 7.
The Admirals got one more run in the top of the 8thoff of Connor Leedholm on a Matt Eureste RBI single but that was all.
Ethan Gibbons worked a clean 2/3 to end the 8th and Ryan Richardson collected his 2nd save in as many opportunities to close the game out.
The Stompers end the home stand Friday night at 6:05 against the San Rafael Pacifcs and it’s also Avengers Night, so wear your favorite Avengers costume to the ballgame!