Diamonds' Solid Pitching Shuts Down Sonoma In 5-1 Loss

Caleb Bryson finished 2-for-4 in Sonoma's 5-1 loss.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Sonoma Stompers' (6-4) bats fell silent on Friday, as the team fell to the Pittsburg Diamonds (5-5) by a score of 5-1 at City Park Field in Pittsburg on Friday evening. With the win, the Diamonds moved to within one game of the Stompers for first place in the Pacific Association. Game two of the series has now become an important one for both teams in the early parts of this season as they battle for the top spot in the league. 

Starting pitcher Corey MacDonald was the star for Pittsburg as he flipped the script from his first start against the Stompers last Friday. The Stompers scored nine runs (three earned) off MacDonald in the second inning before he was knocked out of the game. Tonight, the tall right-hander threw seven complete allowing only four hits and had six strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season (1-1). He did a good job with his location keeping the ball down to prevent the powerful Stomper lineup to get to him. 

Stomper’s starter Jose Flores did not have his best stuff and struggled in the 3 1/3 innings that he pitched. The eight walks that he allowed were just too many to pitch around, and forced the Stompers to go to the bullpen early. Austin Delmotte was solid in relief out of the pen, but the Diamonds already had all of the offense they needed with the solid pitching performance. 

The Stompers' lone bright spot in the order was Caleb Bryson as he finished 2 for 4 in the game with an RBI. Bryson’s double into deep left center field that scored Sam DiMatteo gave them their only run of the game in the eighth inning.

Saturday night’s game two matchup is set up to be a good one as both club’s aces are scheduled to start.  Sean Conroy and Dylan Brammer will go head to head for the second time this season as they faced each other last Sunday. Brammer (2-0) got the best of Sonoma his last time out on his way to a win. Conroy (0-1) will look to get his first win of 2016 to help the Stompers avoid a two-game losing streak. The Stompers have yet to lose two straight games this season. Coverage of the game from City Park Field will be available on StompersBaseball.com and the TuneIn app starting at 5:50. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Tickets for upcoming Stomper’s home games are available on stompersbaseball.com. You may also purchase tickets and fan merchandise at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. Email us at info@stompersbaseball.com for more information.

Box Score

Stompers Alumni Shining At Upper Levels Of Pro Ball

2014 Stompers hurler Gabriel Garcia has been signed by the legendary Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Tokyo (Yomiuri) Giants Facebook Page

Tim Livingston, Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting

The Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club – presented by Virginia Dare Winery – have had a dozen former players perform for higher division baseball teams in their short history, and a group of them are making major waves right now in the baseball world.

Two members of the 2014 team are performing at a very high level right now, with one at the top of the baseball world in Japan and the other quickly making his way up the ladder in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Sonoma’s own Jayce Ray, who was signed by the Red Sox on a minor league contract this past offseason, received a call-up to Double-A Portland on Sunday after a great run at Low-A Greenville. 

For Greenville, Ray hit .378/.429/.467 in 12 games with eight runs scored and two stolen bases. He reached base in 21 of 49 plate appearances before getting the call to the Eastern League, where he’s played in two games for the Sea Dogs so far, going 0 for 6.

Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean, the legendary Tokyo (Yomiuri) Giants made a splash by signing Gabriel Garcia to a contract earlier this week, making him the first former Stomper player to get signed by a team in Nippon Professional Baseball, the Japanese equivalent to the Major Leagues.

The former Houston Astros farmhand had a 3.69 ERA in 75 2/3 IP with the Stompers in 2014, striking out 50 with a WHIP of 1.16. In 2015, Garcia played in the Mexican independent leagues while making a stop in Joplin of the Frontier League. He then pitched in his home country of Venezuela in the Venezuelan Winter League this past offseason.

A couple of members of the memorable 2015 Stompers team are making their presence known in the Frontier League right now, one on the mound and the other behind the plate.

Dylan Stoops, a left-hander that was a find of Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller last season on the now famous spreadsheet they produced to find undrafted college talent, has been absolutely sensational for the Traverse City Beach Bums in 2016.

The Richmond, VA native is 2-0 in five starts with the team, including a complete game victory. He has a 2.20 ERA and has struck out 25 batters in 28 2/3 innings. In his start Thursday against Schaumburg, he went seven innings, allowing four hits and one run while walking two and striking out a season-best nine.

Stoops was the best left-handed pitcher in the Pacific Association last year, sporting a 1.97 FIP (Fielding-Independent Pitching) in 23 innings, striking out 29 while allowing only 30 baserunners.
Meanwhile, his former catcher Isaac Wenrich has returned from an offseason scare to become one of the most productive hitters in the league. 

Wenrich suffered a heart attack this past April when a blood clot traveled into his heart, causing him to collapse during a coaching session. His student, Nathan Boyer, performed CPR until paramedics arrived, saving his life.

After a week in the hospital and nearly two months of recovery, Wenrich was given a clean bill of health and permission to resume baseball activities with the Florence Freedom, which he has done with aplomb.

In the 10 games since his return, he’s been crushing the ball, hitting .387/.457/.613 with two homers, five RBIs and seven runs scored. The 26-year-old from West Lawn, Pennsylvania is having his finest season yet in his professional career.

The 6-3 Stompers are on the road this weekend, taking on the Pittsburg Diamonds for a three game series beginning tonight at 7 p.m. Saturday’s first pitch is at 6 p.m., while the Sunday finale begins at high noon.

Sonoma returns home on Tuesday, June 14 for a series with the San Rafael Pacifics. Tickets are available now on StompersBaseball.com and at the Arnold Field Box Office beginning 30 minutes before any home game. For more information, call (707) 938-7277 or email the team at info@StompersBaseball.com.

"Out At The Ballpark" To Celebrate LGBTQ Pride June 17

The famous #IsaacHug between Sean Conroy and Isaac Wenrich capped off a historic "Pride Night" evening on June 25, 2015. Conroy is scheduled to start Sonoma's Pride Weekend Celebration "Out At The Ballpark" next Friday.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers, AP

Tim Livingston, Director of Media Relations & Broadcasting

The Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club – presented by Virginia Dare Winery - will once again be honoring LGBTQ Pride ahead of the celebrations in Northern California this year when they host “Out At The Ballpark” on Friday, June 17.

The Stompers will host the Vallejo Admirals that night at 6 p.m., and much like last year’s game against the Admirals, this particular promotional evening will have a special ring to it.

Stompers pitcher Sean Conroy, who as a rookie became professional baseball’s first-ever active openly gay player, is scheduled to start at “Out At The Ballpark,” almost a year to the day after his historic outing during last season’s “Pride Night” on June 25, 2015.

The Clifton Park, NY native went the distance that night, throwing a three-hit shutout against the Admirals with 11 strikeouts. His teammates wore rainbow-colored socks and armbands in support, and after the final out, the celebration included the now iconic hug between Conroy and catcher Isaac Wenrich.

Memorabilia from the game now resides at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, and this past offseason, Conroy ran into Wenrich while visiting the exhibit. Wenrich is now starring for the Florence Freedom in the Frontier League. 

The game is the beginning of an eventful weekend series for the Stompers, as the team will also have a Father’s Day Celebration on Sunday, June 19, making it another great weekend to watch some baseball at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at StompersBaseball.com, and can also be purchased at the Arnold Field Box Office 30 minutes before any home game. For more information, call (707) 938-7277, or email the team at info@StompersBaseball.com.

Mozeika Leads Stompers To Series Victory Over Admirals

Eric Mozeika impressed with four shutout innings out of the bullpen in Sonoma's 8-4 win.

James Toy III/ Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Sonoma Stompers (6-3) took the rubber match of the three game series against the Vallejo Admirals (4-5) on Thursday night by a score of 8-4. Sonoma has now won every series they have played in this season. They did so tonight by using a formula that has worked very well for them so far. Sonoma’s offense was able to put a crooked number up on the board early in the game in the bottom of the second, and the bullpen made sure that the lead would be more than enough. 

The huge inning came in the second inning for the Stompers as they put seven runs on the board. Derrick Fox had a two-run double in the inning, and Caleb Bryson also had a two-run single on a ball that took a hop right over Vallejo second baseman Pedro Perez. The key to the inning though was the Stompers ability to stay patient at the plate as they drew three walks in the inning. Even in the at bats that did not result in a walk, Sonoma worked the count and waited for the pitcher to make a mistake. The Stompers would never look back from their second inning success at the plate.

Three year Stomper veteran Mike Jackson Jr. turned in another good start for Sonoma, earning his second win of the season in as many starts. The right-hander threw five innings, allowing three earned runs, and struck out three. Jackson Jr. showed great poise on the mound after a rough start to the game that saw the Admirals take an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Yet the veteran was able to regain focus and gave Sonoma the outing they needed. 

Eric Mozeika was the only weapon the Stompers needed out of the pen after Jackson Jr. departed, and turned in some of his most impressive work on the season. He threw four strong innings with no earned runs, only two hits, and a walk. His slider was devastating and he consistently frustrated the Admirals at the plate. Mozeika earned his first save of the season, in a ‘fireman’ role for Sonoma. The Stompers righty hasn’t allowed an earned run to cross the plate in the last 7 2/3 innings he has pitched.

Sonoma will now hit the road for the weekend to face the Pittsburg Diamonds. It will be the second weekend in a row that Sonoma will make an appearance at City Park Field. Sonoma fell just short of a series sweep last weekend, and will look to continue their offensive success at one of the best hitters parks in the Pacific Association. Coverage of all three games will be available on the radio on stompersbaseball.com, and the TuneIn app. 

Tickets for any Stompers home game are available on stompersbaseball.com. Fan merchandise, and tickets are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in beautiful downtown Sonoma. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score

Paulino Stellar In Stompers' 4-3 Win Over Admirals

Gregory Paulino threw 7 1/3 great innings in the Stompers 4-3 victory on Wednesday.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Sonoma Stompers (5-3) handled their business tonight, and took game two of their series against the Vallejo Admirals (4-4) by a score of 4-3. Things did get interesting in the late innings as the Admirals once again made a late charge, but the Stompers were able to flip the script from a night ago and hold on for the win. The Stompers will look to win the series against the Admirals in the finale tomorrow night at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. 

The Stompers got a lot of help in this game from starter Gregory Paulino who threw deeper into the game than any starter has so far this season. He pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and striking out five. He was very efficient and made quick work of the Admirals at times by inducing a plethora of ground ball outs. Bench coach Chris Matthews stressed the importance of his location when pitching.

“Paulino was able to keep the ball down tonight, and had good command of the zone and the Admirals could not adjust," said Matthews, "That was the key to his success tonight.” 

Sonoma was able to give Paulino an early lead in the second inning thanks in part to a familiar face to the Arnold Field crowd. Designated hitter Joel Carranza launched a slider over the left field fence for his first home run of the season. Carranza made his season debut on Tuesday for the Stompers, but has been a part of the team in each of the last two seasons. The home run was his 30th homer in a Stompers uniform. 

Multiple other Stompers had good nights at the plate, as the Stompers had 13 hits in total. Left fielder Mark Hurley and catcher Marcus Blackmon were great in the 6 and 7 spots in the order, going a combined 5 for 8 combined with two runs batted in. Second baseman Derrick Fox was also able to bounce back with a 2-for-4 night after going hitless Tuesday night. 

Trailing 4-1, the Admirals were able to score two runs in the eighth to cut the deficit to one run. The situation seemed very familiar from the series opener, when the Admirals erased a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning to tie the game to force extra innings. The Admirals won after a run in the tenth.

Thanks to a great relief appearance by Martin Cronin, the Stompers were able to hold on, and sent manager Takashi Miyoshi out a winner on a night that happened to be his 38th birthday. Cronin entered the game when Paulino departed with one out in the eighth and took the game the rest of the way, earning his first save of the year.

Mike Jackson Jr. will look to give the Stompers some momentum before they head east for another weekend road series in Pittsburg against the Diamonds. Jackson Jr. was great in his last start on Friday, tying a franchise record with 12 strikeouts. This will be the first time Jackson Jr. has faced the Admirals this season. 

Tickets for the rubber match of the series, or any game this season are available at stompersbaseball.com.  You may also purchase tickets at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street just off the town square in Sonoma. For more information, please email the team at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score  

Stompers Fall In Extra Innings, 5-4 On Opening Night Against Admirals

Sean Conroy, Daniel Baptista, and Mark Hurley were given 2015 Pacific Association League awards during pre-game festivities. 

Geoff Safford/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

Opening night began with so much excitement from the crowd at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field in Sonoma. The Stompers came out strong in the first half of the game and looked to be well on their way to an opening night victory. However, the Vallejo Admirals had other plans and spoiled the Stompers home opener as as they defeated the Stompers by a score of 5-4 in 10 innings. It was the kind of loss that feels more like a kick in the stomach than anything else. 

A capacity crowd in Sonoma enjoyed a good start from Oliver Garcia as he delivered just what manager Takashi Miyoshi was looking for out of his starter. “In Garcia’s first start last week he began to tire in the early innings, and lost his stuff on the mound. We would love to get five or six innings from him tonight.” 

Garcia delivered to the delight of the crowd. In his five plus innings of work, he allowed only one earned run, four hits, and struck out seven batters. It is becoming clear after two starts that Garcia has some of the best strikeout stuff on the team. He threw well over 90 miles an hour and the Admirals struggled to catch up. Juan Espinosa backed up his effort with a solid outing out of the bullpen throwing two-plus innings, allowing three hits and striking out five. 

It was fitting that they both pitched well as Espinosa and Garcia are linked off the field. Garcia hails from the Dominican Republic, and struggles at times to speak English. Espinosa is fluent in both Spanish and English, so he helps Garcia communicate. The dominance they had was something that could never be lost in translation. 

Meanwhile, the Stomper offense got the crowd on their feet in the middle of the game thanks to a pair of home runs from the meat of the order. In the fourth inning, both Matt Petrone and Caleb Bryson went deep with solo shots, as Petrone’s second of the year and Bryson’s third homer made it 2-0. Bryson has now homered in three of his past four games. The Stompers would add on in the sixth with two more runs to take a 4-1 lead. The Stompers had chances to score more as they left 12 men on base, and that would prove to be costly.

Vallejo proved to be a team that could come from behind as they did so in all three games over last weekend against the league champion Pacifics. They were asked to do that once again on Tuesday, and delivered against closer Austin Delmotte. 

Delmotte allowed the Admirals to score two runs before Taylor Thurber came in to pitch. Thurber allowed the tying run to score on a bizarre play where the Admirals stole home after a strikeout.

Vallejo got a huge contribution offensively from Darian Sandford, Jackson Valera, and Gerald Bautista. Those three hitters combined for 10 of Vallejo’s 12 hits, and Bautista was a perfect 4 for 4 in the game. In the end, it was a little small ball for the Admirals that won the game for them. They scored the lead run in the top of the 10th on a suicide squeeze play. 

The Stompers rallied in the bottom of the tenth with runners at second and third, but a strikeout by Derrick Fox ended the threat, and the Admirals came pouring out of the dugout to celebrate the win. Tim Holmes picked up his first win of the season for Vallejo, and Thurber picked up the loss. Carlos Pinales also got credit for a save, his first of the year.

Sonoma took one on the chin in the first game they played this season against the Admirals, and were able to come back in that series by winning the next two. They will look for a little more of the same on Wednesday night, as Stomper veteran Gregory Paulino will get the start for Sonoma. Paulino started against Vallejo last week in a Stomper win, and allowed three runs on six hits in four plus innings. He will be tasked with turning this series around for the home team. 

Tickets for game two of the series are available on stompersbaseball.com, or will be available at the Arnold Field box office 30 minutes before game time. First pitch will take place at 6 p.m. You may also purchase tickets and fan merchandise at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. If you have any questions email us at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score

Slugger Joel Carranza Returns To Sonoma Stompers

The most prolific slugger in Sonoma Stompers history has returned as Joel Carranza has signed with the Stompers as a player/coach.

Sonoma Stompers Photos

Stompers Staff Services

The Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club’s first roster transaction of the 2016 season sits in stark contrast to the exodus of talent the team experienced last August. Former Pacific Association single-season home run record holder and fan favorite Joel Carranza was signed by the Stompers on Monday.

Carranza belted a then-league-record 19 home runs in 2014, and drove in 64 runs. Last season he hit .358 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs in 44 games before being signed by the Canadian-American League’s Trios-Rivieres Eagles of Quebec. Carranza helped take the Eagles to the CanAm championship with a .267 average and four homers in 11 games down the stretch.

A career .306 hitter in professional baseballs, spanning 6 different seasons, has a lifetime OBP (on-base percentage) of .377, with a slugging percentage of .533 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages) .910.

“We’re thrilled Joel is returning to Sonoma,” Fightmaster said. “He’s been one of the faces of this franchise since he arrived on the scene in 2014. We’re excited to see what he can do for our lineup that has been fun to watch already in the early going this year.”

Carranza will serve as the Stompers' hitting coach, too.

The Stompers open their home season Tuesday with a 6 p.m. tilt against the Vallejo Admirals. Sonoma (4-2) took two of three from Vallejo (3-3) in the first series of the season last week.

Joel will also be one of the players featured at June's Stompers Kids Camp, Tuesday June 14 - Thursday June 16th Featuring an appearance by former Giant J.T. Snow on June 15. For more information or to register, visit http://www.stompersbaseball.com/kidscamp/.
 
Full Season tickets, mini-plans and partial season tickets are on sale on our website, www.stompersbaseball.com, or at the Stompers Fan Shop, located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. Group events and Group Tickets are also available now. Please email jack@stompersbaseball.com, or call 707.938.7277 for questions and more information.

Diamonds Avoid Sweep Win Series Finale 5-2 Over Stompers

Ethan Szabo had his fourth multi-hit game of the season on Sunday in Sonoma's loss to Pittsburg.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR OPENING NIGHT!

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

Sonoma had a tough afternoon offensively on Sunday and dropped their series finale to the Pittsburg Diamonds by a score of 5-2 at City Field in Pittsburg. Despite the loss, the Stompers had a solid opening road trip of the season finishing 4-2 in their first week of the season.. 

The Stompers had the lead briefly in the second inning thanks to a two-run rally in the second inning, as Eddie Mora-Loera's RBI single gave Sonoma a 2-1 lead. However, the lead did not last long. Sammy Ayala hit a solo shot in the third off starter Sean Conroy to tie the game at two. The two runs put on the board by Sonoma in the second would be it for them offensively in the game.

Starting pitcher Dylan Brammer was efficient for the Diamonds, throwing six innings and allowing  seven hits with only the two second inning runs. The Diamond bullpen was also solid as they threw three no-hit innings to close out the game. 

The Stompers kept the game in reach for the majority of the afternoon, but a two-run eighth for the Diamonds against Sonoma left-hander Matt Picucci gave them the cushion they needed. The big blow in the inning came on a two-runsingle by pinch-hitter Rich Mejia. The Stompers pitchers had been able to pitch in and out of some trouble up to to that point. 

After a long but successful road slate to start the season, the Stompers head home for the first time. They will start a three game series against the Admirals on Tuesday at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field with the first pitch coming at 6 p.m.

Vallejo (3-3) lost two out of three at Wilson Park in the opening series of the season against Sonoma.  However, they bounced back nicely over the weekend, as they took two out of three against the 2015 league champion San Rafael Pacifics. Oliver Garcia is scheduled to get the start against Vallejo, and would face them for the second time. 

Tickets for Opening Night, are available on stompersbaseball.com. Tickets and fan merchandise are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. If you have any questions, contact the team at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score

Early Offense, Impressive Bullpen Key To Stompers 10-5 Win

Caleb Bryson homered for the second consecutive game on Saturday night in a 10-5 win.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Sonoma Stompers clinched a series victory with a 10-5 win over the Pittsburg Diamonds (2-3) on Saturday night under the lights of City Park in Pittsburg. Sonoma used a similar script to the one they used in game one of the series with early offense and great pitching down the stretch to secure the win. The Stompers have now won four in a row, and improved their record to 4-1..

The Stompers offense provided an early inning offensive explosion that put the Diamonds in a big hole. Already up 1-0, Sonoma scored seven runs in the third inning on four hits and an error to give them an early 8-0 cushion. The Diamonds did respond in the bottom half of the inning with a big inning of their own that brought five runs to the plate to make it a 8-5 game headed into the fourth inning. But those were the only runs that the Diamonds could muster after the dominant Stomper bullpen took over.

Caleb Bryson provided a déjà vu moment in the ninth inning with a monster home run that soared deep into the night over the left field wall. It was his second home run of the season, and the second night in a row that Bryson has gone yard. He finished the game 2 for 5 with two RBIs. Eddie Mora-Loera also had one of his best nights offensively on the season finishing 2 for 4 with two RBIs. The Stomper offense also continued their patient approach that has been a huge part of their success over the past four games as they worked the Diamonds staff into six walks. 

Starting pitcher Jose Flores did not make it out of the third inning, and the Diamond offense looked poised to make a run at the Stompers after their third inning success. However, the Stomper bullpen slammed the door shut and turned in another impressive effort in the final 6 innings. 

Eric Mozeika and Tyler Thurber were both fabulous out of the pen for Sonoma and did not allow any Diamonds to score. They pitched 6 plus innings combined, allowing three hits, no runs, and seven strikeouts. Thurber seemed to get more dominant as time went on, and ended the game by striking out the side. The bullpen as a whole also continued the astonishing scoreless steak they have compiled over the past four games. They have now thrown 18 plus innings of scoreless baseball in a row. 

Sonoma now has a chance to secure a series sweep for the first time this season, and will go for a 5-1 record on this 6 game road trip. Sean Conroy is scheduled to get the start for Sonoma and will look to bounce back from the rough outing he had in Vallejo on opening night earlier this week. First pitch has also been moved to 1 p.m. at City Field in Pittsburg. 

The Stompers will open their home schedule next week starting on Tuesday, June 7 as they begin a three game series against the Admirals at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field in Sonoma. Tickets for opening day, and every game this season are available on stompersbaseball.com. Tickets, and fan merchandise can also be purchased at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma.  If you have any questions, please email us at info@stompersbaseball.com. 

11-Run Second Inning Fuels Stompers Victory

Caleb Bryson went 3-for-5 with a home run and 5 RBIs in the Stompers win over the Diamonds.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Sonoma Stompers had a night to remember as they annihilated the Pittsburg Diamonds (2-2) by a score of 18-4 at City Park in Pittsburg on Friday. In the game, the Stompers broke three franchise records and tied another in an unbelievable effort. With the win, the Stompers improved to (3-1) and have won three straight since dropping the first game of the season.  They also have taken over first place in the early parts of this Pacific Association season.

The Stompers offense went down quietly in the first inning, but exploded with an inning for the record books in the second. 14 Stompers came to the plate, and they put 11 runs on the board in an inning that seemed like it would never end. Both of those numbers broke franchise records and put the game seemingly out of reach as the Stompers led, 11-0.

Unbelievably enough, the Stompers were not done offensively as third baseman Caleb Bryson delivered another huge blow in the seventh. Bryson delivered with a grand slam that soared over the left field fence. The home run was Bryson’s first of the season, and broke another franchise record for the most runs scored in a game with 18. Bryson finished with his best night offensively in a Stomper uniform as the Georgia native went 3-for-5 with 5 RBIs. The Stompers finished with 14 hits as a team in total. 

The Pitching performance by the Stompers staff was also stellar on a night where the offense stole the headlines. Starting pitcher Mike Jackson Jr. was outstanding in his six innings, and finished with 12 strikeouts in the game. That tied a franchise record held by fellow starter Gregory Paulino. 

The bullpen was also stellar in their three innings of work. Martin Cronin and Juan Espinosa combined to allow only one hit and struck out two. The bullpen has thrown 12 scoreless innings over the past three games. 

Game two of the series against the Diamonds will take place at 6 p.m. in Pittsburg on Saturday. The Stompers will try to go for their fourth straight victory, and can also clinch a series win. Sonoma will conclude the three game set with a Sunday 12 p.m. start time.

The Stompers will play their first home game at People’s Home Equity Ball Park at Arnold Field on Tuesday, June 7 as they host the Vallejo Admirals. Oliver Garcia is scheduled to get the start for Sonoma. Sonoma won two out of three games against the Admirals in the opening series of the season.

Tickets for opening night, or any game this season are available on stompersbaseball.com or at the Arnold Field box office one hour before every home game. Term merchandise and tickets are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. If you have any questions, please contact us at (707) 938-7277. You may also email the team at info@stompersbaseball.com.