Stompers third baseman Kristian Gayday waits for a pitch in the first inning of Monday morning's exhibition against San Rafael.
Eric Gullotta/Sonoma Stompers
Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations
On a beautiful Memorial Day morning, the Sonoma Stompers hosted the San Rafael Pacifics in their 2015 Spring Training opener and fell to the defending Pacific Association champions at Peterson Field, 3-2.
At the plate, the Stompers rapped nine hits all over the field, including a couple of hard hit balls by outfielder Will Price and shortstop Kyle Breault. Breault reached base twice, once on an error and once on a ground rule double that rolled past the fence down the right field line.
Player-manager Fehlandt Lentini lined a single to left field in his second at-bat and former Vallejo Admirals catcher Isaac Wenrich also singled in his first action with the Stompers. Breault and returning utilityman TJ Gavlik scored the runs for Sonoma.
The pitching was a bright spot for the Stompers, as eight hurlers held the Pacifics to only five hits. Impressive innings were thrown by returners Mike Jackson, Jr., Erik Gonsalves and Eric Schwieger, with Schwieger only needing seven pitches to get out of his inning of work and Gonsalves inducing a 1-6-3 double play to end his inning.
The team will have a workout on Tuesday before hosting San Rafael again in an exhibition game on Wednesday morning at Peterson Field at 10 a.m.
Opening Night is now only a week away, with the Stompers hosting the Pittsburg Diamonds at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1. Tickets are available online at www.StompersBaseball.com and at the Stompers Fan Shop at 234 W. Napa St. in downtown Sonoma.