SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers had a sloppy game defensively, but production from the bullpen and timely hitting propelled them to a big win over rival San Rafael.
Nick Barnese (4-0) did not have his best stuff early on as he labored through the first 4 innings.
Raul Navarro opened the ball game with a single and a pair of errors by Jacob Barfield at third base allowed 2 runs to score and give San Rafael an early 2-0 lead.
The Stompers answered with 2 runs of their own in the bottom half of the 1st inning. Pedro Barrios doubled down the right field line to open the inning and Dondrei Hubbard followed with a walk. Erratic pitching from Brad Bero (1-2) led to 2 runs on wild pitches and passed balls, allowing the Stompers to tie it up 2-2.
Both pitchers settled down for the next 2 innings but the Stompers struck with 3 more in the bottom of the 4th inning when Rayson Romero launched his 2nd home run down the left field line to put the Stompers ahead 5-2.
San Rafael got back-to-back-to-back 1 out base runners in the top of the 5th inning and Harley Lopez drove in a run on a walk to end the game for Barnese who went 4.1 innings, allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits while striking out 4 and walking 4.
Willie Ethington (3-0) came in and immediately allowed an RBI single to Corey Dempster. On the play Jay Carp also tried to score but he was cut down on at the plate but San Rafael inched closer as the Stompers led just 5-4.
In the bottom of the 6thinning Rob DeAngelis drove in a run on a bases loaded walk to extend the lead 6-4.
One more run came across for the Stompers in the last of the 7th inning on a Miles Williams RBI single to center to score Barfield and give the Stompers another insurance run, 7-4.
The Stompers used 4 men out of the bullpen and got 4.2 innings of shutout baseball with Ryan Richardson ending the game with his 8th save of the year.
The Stompers are home again on Thursday night for Women In Sports Night at 6:05 against the Napa Silverados.