SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers had to play from behind on Friday night. They got help from 4 solo home runs but couldn’t quite complete the comeback at they fell to Napa 10-7.
Pat Barnett (1-1) started for the Stompers and he got hit around early and often. Napa took advantage of a pair of walks and with 1 out Nick Ultsch hit a 3-run homer to right-center field to put Napa on the board first. A pair of singles by Toni and Fitzpatrick drove in another run to make it 4-0 Napa after 1 half inning.
The Stompers got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Brent Gillespie hit a majestic solo homer to right field, cutting into the lead 4-1.
Napa put up 5 more runs in the top of the 3rd inning. Toni’s RBI hit, Fitzpatrick’s 2-run double and Bethancourt’s 2-run homer extended Napa’s lead over the Stompers 9-1.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning the Stompers got to Napa starter Gabe Katich (1-1). With 2 outs, Jacob Barfield, Chris Kwitzer and Gillespie went back-to-back-to-back to bring the Stompers closer, 9-4.
Barnett lasted just 5 innings in his 2nd start, allowing 9 runs, 6 earned, on 8 hits while striking out 4.
Willie Ethington came in the game in the top of the 6th inning and allowed a pair of walks and a pair of hits to bring in the 10th Napa run to bring the score to 10-4.
Ehtington was yanked for Marshall Shill who induced a double play to get out of the inning.
The Stompers inched closer in the bottom of the 6th inning getting RBI hits from Rayson Romero and Barfield as they put up 3 runs to make it 10-7.
The Stompers fell 10-7 to Napa but look for vengeance on Saturday night against the Silverados at 6:05.