Joel Carranza had three hits on Wednesday night including the game-tying hit in the seventh that brought Sonoma all the way back from a seven run deficit.
James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers
Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations
Back on June 3rd, the Sonoma Stompers were down seven runs to the Pittsburg Diamonds. It was 9-2 in the fourth inning, and it looked bleak for the home team. Yet somehow, someway, the Stompers found their way back. It took them extra innings, but once Mark Hurley crossed home plate on a wild pitch in the 10th, Sonoma had their biggest comeback of the year.
Fast forward to Wednesday night against the San Rafael Pacifics. Down 13-6 later in the game, this time entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the Stompers were again down seven runs. This time, it was against a team that had their number coming into the game. The last time the Stompers played the Pacifics, San Rafael took five of seven over a week long series.
None of that mattered to the Stompers. They clawed back into the game with seven unanswered runs, with an RBI single by Joel Carranza tying up the game in the seventh inning, turning what looked like a certain blowout into a two-inning game. Unfortunately for Sonoma, their comeback was all for naught, as Maikel Jova's liner to center fell just in front of Matt Hibbert in the ninth, as Zack Pace scored to give San Rafael a wild 14-13 win.
Sonoma (3-2 2nd half, 29-13) had a chance in the ninth inning against Michael Kershner, as Yuki Yasuda walked and an error by newcomer Jake Taylor at third put runners at the corners with two outs and Daniel Baptista coming to the plate. Fighting off numerous pitches from the hard-throwing closer, Baptista made contact but bounced out to shortstop to end Sonoma's hopes.
It was a tough enough game for Sonoma to try and come back one time, let alone the multiple times they attempted to in such an offensively charged game. Yet they broke through thanks to a complete attack all throughout their lineup, as all nine starters had at least one hit. Yasuda (2-for-5, 2B), Carranza (3-for-6), Andrew Parker (3-for-4, 2-run HR) and Gered Mochizuki (2-for-3) all had multi-hit games.
Sonoma's 16 hits were the fourth-most hits in a game this season, as San Rafael had 19 hits in their highest run output since an 18-3 drubbing of Vallejo on June 27. Sonoma's 13 runs were the most since their first half-clinching victory back on July 12.
The Stompers will come back to Arnold Field tomorrow night for their series finale with the Pacifics. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. It will be the second night of Sonoma’s Women’s Week, where female fans get a great discount on tickets in the premium reserved ($12) and grandstand ($10) that includes a glass of wine for each seat purchased.