Sonoma Stompers catcher Daniel Comstock hit his first professional home run in Thursday's 6-8 loss to the Vallejo Admirals at Wilson Field. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
Hayley M. Slye / Media Relations
SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, took a hard-fought 6-8 loss to the Vallejo Admirals Thursday night as they fell one win short of matching the 2015 Stompers’ record 6-0 start.
Sonoma won the series 2-1 for its second series victory in a row, but the Admirals refused to go down with their ship. To win Thursday took some grit as the lead changed six times on a damp, cloud-covered night at Wilson Park in Vallejo. A two-out, three-run wave of Admirals runs in the seventh inning proved to be the difference.
“We kept stringing good at bats together, we kept fighting and I think that says a lot about our team,” said catcher Daniel Comstock. “We kept falling, but we kept getting back up.”
Despite the loss, the Stompers still sit at the top of the Pacific Association at 5-1.
After retiring the first five hitters of the game in order, Admirals starter David Dinelli walked two then gave up a three-run home run in the second to Comstock, putting Sonoma up 3-1. The shot was Comstock’s first home run as a professional.
“I didn’t know it was going to go out and I started running and then the right fielder stopped running,” Comstock said. “Rounding the bases never gets old. It’s kind of an indescribable feeling.”
Despite the towering shot, a rocky start on the mound for Juan Espinosa allowed Vallejo to shake seven hits out of him and flip the lead on the Stompers 5-4.
The waters calmed a bit when DJ Sharabi took the mound in relief, retiring six batters at the start of his outing. Sharabi’s cool performance doused an Admirals offense that was on fire through four innings, giving the Stompers an opportunity to tie the game again on two wild pitches.
“He kept us alive,” said Stompers Manager Takashi Miyoshi.
The stillness didn’t last as Sharabi and Adam Ogburn combined to allow the five straight base hits in the seventh that put the score at 8-5 Admirals.
Sonoma has expertly taken advantage of opportunities to score without hits so far this season, drawing 45 walks and stealing 18 bases to score 48 runs through six games.
“I like to keep pushing to score one more run to change the momentum toward us,” Miyoshi said.
Despite the loss, the Stompers still sit at the top of the Pacific Association at 5-1. Their next challenge will be a series on the road against the San Rafael Pacifics (1-3), beginning Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Albert Park.
STOMPERS HOME OPENER
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.
Use promo code "OPENINGDAY" to receive 15% off of home opener tickets online.
For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.