Stompers Win Third Straight Behind Complete Game By Espinosa

Juan Espinosa was outstanding in a 8-3 win for the Stompers Saturday. Espinosa pitched the full nine innings allowing only four hits in the process. It was Espinosa's first complete game as a professional.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

Juan Espinosa made his second start of the season Saturday night in front of a big crowd at City Park Field. He had pitched extremely well in his first outing on July 31, and was looking forward to Saturday night's start even more than usual. Many Stompers players have taken notice to the arrival of Jose Canseco since he joined the Diamonds on Thursday, but facing Canseco had a special meaning for Espinosa. 

“Just being on the same field with Canseco was an honor for me. Being a Miami native, Canseco was a hero of mine and someone I loved to watch play growing up,” said Espinosa. “Striking him out felt amazing, that will always be something I will remember,” said Espinosa. Espinosa struck out Canseco twice on the night with the second one coming to end the game and preserve an 8-3 win for the Stompers over the Diamonds. It was Espinosa’s first complete game as a professional. 

The young right-hander was in complete control for the majority of the game. Espinosa retired 12 in a row in the later innings and cruised to his first win as a starter. He allowed only four hits and struck out six, as the only blips were two home runs by Mike Taylor, as the power hitter accounted for all of Pittsburg's offense on the night. Yet even with the homers by Taylor, Espinosa shone brightest on Saturday night.

“I think the most important thing for me tonight was that I was able to consistently throw strikes,” Espinosa said. “Even when I was behind in the count, I felt confident with all my pitches and knew I could throw any pitch at any time,” Espinosa said. 

The Stompers offense has made a habit of scoring runs in bunches and that continued Saturday. Sonoma scored three times in the first, as Joel Carranza got the Stompers off to a good start right off the bat with a two-run double. Carranza continued his success at the plate this week and finished 2 for 5 with three driven in. The veteran is 7 for 15 with eight RBIs in his last three games. Mason Morioka also had a great night, finishing a perfect 3 for 3. 

The most important inning for the Stompers offense may have been the ninth. They faced Garrett Granitz, a tough submarine-style pitcher, and found a way to manufacture four runs off of him. That gave the Stompers a more comfortable advantage and allowed Espinosa the opportunity to finish things off. 

Sonoma (33-26, 10-10 second half) has already won four games this week against the Diamonds (25-34, 7-13 second half) and can finish off a sweep of Pittsburg on Sunday afternoon. Oliver Garcia is scheduled to get the start, and he'll lock horns with Canseco, who will get the start to show off his knuckleball. The Stompers will look to keep the pressure on the San Rafael Pacifics heading into a huge series starting Tuesday at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. The Stompers trail San Rafael by three games in the second half standings. 

Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Fan gear and tickets are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information about the team, contact the Stompers front office at info@stompersbaseball.com. 

Home Run Ball Powers Stompers To 5-3 Win Over Diamonds

Mason Morioka's fifth home run of the season was the difference Friday in a 5-3 win over the Diamonds at City Park Field. Morioka finished 2 for 4 with two driven in. 

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

Mason Morioka applauds his teammate’s power when they hit a home run in batting practice every day. It has become a pregame tradition and helps the Stompers let loose and have a little fun before a game. Some of that power from batting practice translated into the game for Morioka in the second inning.

With one run already in on a Daniel Baptista solo home run, Morioka came to the plate with Mark Hurley aboard at first with two outs and blasted a 1-2 pitch out to left for his fifth home run of the season to give the Stompers a three run advantage. Sonoma would tack on two more in the fifth and the bullpen finished the job in a 5-3 win Friday over the Diamonds. Morioka finished the game 2 for 4 with two driven in and Daniel Baptista had another good night at the plate, as well, finishing 3 for 5 with an RBI. 

Taylor Thurber picked up his fourth win as a starter to improve to 5-5 on the year. The righty was solid in six innings allowing two earned runs and six hits. Some of the hits the Diamonds recorded were not hit that sharply. Two hits came on instances when Thurber actually broke the opposing hitter’s bat. He departed the game with his team up by two runs but the bullpen did a great job of letting the lead stand up.

Newly signed reliever Ryan Richardson and closer Jose Flores did the job in the final 2 2/3 innings to keep the Stompers out in front. Richardson faced the largest threat in the seventh when the Diamonds had runners at the corners and former American League MVP Jose Canseco at the plate with one out in the seventh. The veteran was able to get Canseco to ground into a double play to end the inning, mere hours after signing his contract with his new team. He threw 1 2/3 scoreless inning to bridge the gap to the dominant Sonoma closer.

Flores picked up his fourth save of the season, using a devastating slider to strikeout two batters on his way to a perfect ninth inning. Flores has absolutely flourished in his late inning role since being moved there last month. In 9 1/3 innings, Flores has allowed only 1 earned run and has struck out 14 batters.

Sonoma (32-26, 9-10 second half) has won three of the first four games this week against the Diamonds (26-32, 7-12) with two games left in the six game slate. Pittsburg began the second half 6-3 but has fallen on hard times the last two weeks as they have now lost 9 of their last 10 games. The Stompers have also gained ground on the second half leading San Rafael Pacifics (33-25, 12-7 second half) the last two nights. Things could get very interesting in the second half race down the stretch as the Stompers face San Rafael nine times in their final 18 games. 

Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Fan merchandise, and tickets are also available inside the fan shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information on the Stompers contact the Stompers at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Fourth Inning Onslaught Fuels Stompers 9-2 Win

Joel Carranza hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to highlight a seven run rally in the fourth in the Stompers 9-2 win over the Diamonds. Carranza was 3 for 5 with 4 RBIs.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Stompers offense could not quite get the big hit they were looking for in the first three innings Thursday night in Pittsburg. They were leading by a small margin even though they had six hits in those three innings. However, things would change in a big way for the Stompers in the fourth inning.

The Stompers loaded the bases in the top of the fourth on a hit by Mason Morioka and walks to Matt Hibbert and Derrick Fox, setting the table for Joel Carranza. Carranza went with the location of a pitch on the outer half and launched his 12th home run over the wall in right center field for a grand slam. It was only the beginning of a seven run fourth inning, as 11 batters came to the plate to help Sonoma roll to a 9-2 win over the Diamonds at City Park Field. 

Carranza has really locked in recently at the plate, as the grand slam was his s third home run in the last five games. He finished Thursday’s game 3 for 5 with those four big RBIs, and he said that despite being in bases loaded situation, he did not try to do to much as a hitter at the plate. “Whenever I get an at-bat with the bases loaded and less than two outs my number one priority is to get the ball into the outfield,” Carranza said. “If I can get the ball into the outfield, that gets at least one run home. I was looking for a pitch away and got what I was looking for in that situation and was able to execute,” Carranza said. 

The offensive output by the Stompers was more than enough for Mike Jackson Jr. as the right hander put together another outstanding outing. Jackson Jr. pitched seven strong innings allowing six hits and only one earned run. Jackson Jr. (7-2) is tied with Dylan Brammer of the Diamonds for the most wins in the Pacific Association. He has now pitched seven straight quality starts, and is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last four starts. 

“The performances by Jackson Jr. in his last seven starts has proven why he is one of the best starting pitchers in this league,” Carranza said. “As an offense we know that when he is on the mound we only need to score a few runs and he will win the game for us because of how dominant he has been on the mound,” Carranza said. 

Friday will be a new challenge for the Stompers (31-26, 8-10 second half) as they continue the four game slate against Pittsburg (26-31, 7-11 second half.) Friday is set up for a pitchers duel as Taylor Thurber (4-5, 2.74 ERA) is scheduled to go against the tough lefty Chris Cummins (5-5, 3.42 ERA) of the Diamonds. Cummins beat the Stompers his last time out in a 2-1 win for Pittsburg on July 24. But Thurber has done well against the Diamonds, as he threw a complete game in his last start against Pittsburg.

Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field are available on stompersbaseball.com. Tickets, and fan merchandise are also available inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information about the Stompers, contact the front office at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score

Grand Slam Dooms Stompers In 6-2 Loss To Diamonds

Mark Hurley hit his fifth home run of the season Wednesday in the Stompers 6-2 loss to the Diamonds Wednesday night. Hurley has multiple hits in each of the last two games.

James Toy III/ Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

One moment can completely change the feeling of a baseball game. In Wednesday’s game at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field, the game ultimately came down to one swing of the bat. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Jordan Yallen approached the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. Sean Conroy was on the mound making his second appearance of the season out of the bullpen and inherited a tough situation with Sonoma trailing 2-1. With the count even at two and two, Yallen launched a grand slam down the left field line to blow the game open, giving the Diamonds a lead they wouldn't relinquish as they handed Sonoma a 6-2 loss.

Coming into the game, Yallen was hitting only .141 on the year with a .411 OPS, and his only extra base hit was a double. Yet in a crucial moment against a pitcher who had seen his share of success in the Pacific Association, Yallen took a hanging slider and had his biggest hit of the year, sinking Sonoma's hopes of a two-game sweep in the process.

Pittsburg starter Dylan Brammer (7-3) did his job on the mound, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out seven in seven innings pitched for the Diamonds. Brammer has pitched well against the Stompers this season overall, as he is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA on the season in 6 starts. Gregory Paulino (3-4) took the loss for the Stompers, as he allowed 3 runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Offensively, the Stompers had a quiet night after their offensive explosion on Tuesday night, where they rolled to a 13-1 victory. Wednesday night, they had only four hits, as both Daniel Baptista and Mark Hurley finished 2 for 4 in the game. Hurley hit his home run of the season, an opposite field shot that tied the game at 1-1. The Stompers had a few opportunities to put more runs on the board, in the middle innings, but could not get clutch hits and stranded nine runners on base. The top of the order was a strength in Tuesday’s game, but the top three hitters in the order finished 0 for 12 with a walk in Wednesday’s game.

The Stompers (30-26, 7-10 second half) now will head to Pittsburg (26-30, 7-10 second half) for the last time this season for a four game series at City Park Field. Mike Jackson Jr. will get the ball in the first game of the series and can with his fourth game in a row. Jackson Jr. is 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 3 outings for Sonoma. Thursday’s game will be quiet the spectacle with former Major League star Jose Conseco making his Diamonds season debut Thursday night. 

Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Fan gear, and tickets are also available for purchase inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information about the team, contact the Stompers at info@stompersbaseball.com. 

Box Score

Garcia Strikes Out 10 In 13-1 Victory Over Diamonds

Oliver Garcia had a season high 10 strikeouts in a 13-1 win over the Diamonds Tuesday. Garcia allowed only one run in five innings pitched to pick up his third win of the season.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Stompers scored two runs in their last two games combined in a disappointing end to a series last weekend in San Rafael. Sonoma faced the Diamonds on Tuesday night, a team that had been scuffling coming into the game. The Stompers made sure they would not have a repeat performance from the weekend and got the bats rolling from the very start, scoring three runs in the first and never looking back in a 13-1 rout of the Diamonds.

Oliver Garcia lost in his previous two outings against both against the Pacifics but had some of his best stuff Tuesday night. Garcia retired 10 in a row in a stretch from the first to the fourth and allowed only one earned run in five innings pitched while striking out a season high 10 batters. Bench Coach/Catcher Chris Matthews stressed the importance of Garcia to the Stompers offensive success. “Garcia’s tempo, and command on the mound tonight was sensational. He pitched quickly and got us back in the dugout fast,” Matthews said. “That really helps the momentum of an offense when you can get back in the dugout quickly after a big inning,” said Matthews. 

The Stomper offense scored runs in bunches all night. The largest inning came in the seventh when the Stompers exploded for six runs to put the game out of reach. The top of the lineup was sensational as Matt Hibbert, Derrick Fox, and Joel Carranza all finished with two hits each. They went a combined 6 for 12 with five runs scored and six driven in, with three coming on a homer by Joel Carranza in the first inning, his team best 11th of the season.

Mark Hurley had been struggling at the plate recently but found his swing again hitting in the ninth spot, going 2 for 4 with three driven in. Sonoma had 10 hits as a team on top of eight walks and also took advantage of four Diamonds errors on their way to an easy victory.

The Diamonds (25-30, 6-10 second half) will have to find an answer quickly as they have now lost seven straight games. The Stompers (30-25, 7-9 second half) will look to ensure a series victory Wednesday night when they send Gregory Paulino to the mound for the final game of the week at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. The Stompers will head to Pittsburg for a four game series beginning Thursday. 

Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Stompers gear and tickets are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. For more information, call 707-938-7277 or email the team at info@StompersBaseball.com.

Box Score

Stompers Baffled By Conroy, Drop Series To Pacifics

Juan Espinosa was fantastic on Sunday, allowing only one earned run in 7 1/3 innings in his first start of the season.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers 

Tim Livingston, Assistant GM, Media & Baseball Operations

Coming into this week, there was a simple message conveyed by manager Takashi Miyoshi: Win both series this week against the San Rafael Pacifics and cut their second half deficit down. Sonoma had entered the week down four games in the standings, and had lost nine of 12 against the Pacifics in 2016.

In the first four games of their week long matchup with San Rafael, they won just as many games as they had won all season against the two-time defending champs, putting them in a great position to go one step further and perhaps even tie them in the standings.

That dream went away with Saturday night's loss, but the original goal could still be accomplished with a win on Sunday. Pacifics starter Patrick Conroy would have none of that.

Five days after getting roughed up in a loss on Tuesday, the 2014 Pitcher of the Year bounced back with one of the better starts by a pitcher in the Pacific Association this year, as he threw a three-hit shutout to give San Rafael the weekend series while handing Sonoma a 2-0 loss.

The southpaw threw 113 pitches, including 80 for strikes, and only faced two batters over the minimum, inducing a double play to end the eighth inning after Eddie Mora-Loera reached with a single. Joel Carranza and Matt Hibbert had the other hits for Sonoma, who could never figure out Conroy after seeing him so well on Tuesday night. "Conroy had good stuff today," said Miyoshi, "I told them to be aggressive but he messed with their timing to keep them off-balance."

On the other end, Juan Espinosa was very good in his first start of the season, allowing only one earned run in his 7 1/3 innings. That run came home only after he walked the bases loaded in the eighth, when he ran out of gas after 124 pitches. Before that inning, he had retired 12 straight, but San Rafael took the lead in the first after a Daniel Baptista error and a Chase Tucker sacrifice fly.

With a .500 week against San Rafael, Sonoma still remains four games back of the Pacifics at 6-9, while San Rafael still leads the second half standings by two games over the surging Vallejo Admirals, who finished a perfect week with a weeklong sweep against the Pittsburg Diamonds. 

Sonoma will now have another weeklong series, this time with the scuffling Pittsburg Diamonds. The first two games will take place at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark, beginning Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online at StompersBaseball.com and can also be purchased at the box office beginning 30 minutes before first pitch. For more information, call (707) 938-7277 or email the team at info@StompersBaseball.com.

Box Score

Pacifcs Sneak By In 3-2 Win Over Stompers

Joel Carranza hit his 10th home run of the season in a 3-2 loss to the Pacifics. He has reached double digits in homers in three straight seasons with the Stompers.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

There was very little separating the Pacifics and Stompers Saturday night at Albert Park. They had very similar hit totals, and both starting pitchers had solid outings. The only thing that separated these two teams was a few feet. 

Mason Morioka launched a towering fly ball down the left field line with the Stompers trailing by two. The ball went over Johnny Bekakis’ head to the wall and was initially called a home run by the home plate umpire. However, the umpires came together and ultimately decided it was not a home run and Morioka settled for an RBI triple. Carranza scored from first to make it a one run ball game but that would be the last run Sonoma would score in a 3-2 loss to the Pacifics. Joel Carranza brought in the second run on his ninth homerun of the season in the fourth and finished 2 for 4 in the game. 

The two run fifth inning for the Pacifics was the difference in the game against Taylor Thurber. The Pacifics got three straight hits to beginning the inning to load the bases with nobody out. A sacrifice fly by Chase Tucker and an RBI groundout by Jake Taylor brought the runs home and gave the Pacifcs the runs they needed to sneak by the Stompers. Thurber picked up his second consecutive loss despite pitching well in both starts. Thurber went seven innings, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out 4. 

Celson Polanco has had the Stompers number this season and that trend continued Saturday evening. Polanco pitched six innings strong allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Polanco is now 4-0 in four starts against the Stompers with a 2.97 ERA, and only has one other win as a starter this season. 

The bullpen was solid tonight behind Polanco in three scoreless innings. Julian Esquibel and J.R. Bunda allowed only one hit and two walks, with Bunda earning his 11th save of the season in a clean ninth inning.

The Stomper (29-24 6-8 second half) and Pacifics (30-23 9-5 second half) will play in the rubber match of the three game series with a lot on the line Sunday afternoon. The Stompers could also pick up its fourth win in six games this week against the Pacifics. A win would also bring the deficit in the second half standings back to only two games entering the final month of the season. Sonoma will not face the Pacifics again until August 9 at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field.

Tickets for upcoming Stompers games are available at StompersBaseball.com. Tickets, and Fan Merchandise are also availible inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Contact the Stompers front office for more information at info@stompersbaseball.com. 

Box Score

16 Hit Night Fuels Stompers in 8-5 Win Over Pacifics

Daniel Baptista was one of three Stompers with three hits or more in Sonoma's 8-5 win over the Pacifcs. Baptista was 3 for 6 with a homer and three driven in. 

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

The Stompers came to San Rafael with a newfound swagger Friday night. Sonoma began the second half slowly by losing two of the first three series they played. However, the Stompers bounced back with a series win against the Pacifics to begin this week. Sonoma’s offense carried that momentum into Friday with a 16-hit performance in the Stompers 8-5 win over the Pacifics. 

Sonoma’s offense was balanced through the lineup as five Stompers finished with two hits or more in the game. Derrick Fox, Randy Santiesteban, and Daniel Baptista all had three hits or more on the night. Santiesteban has taken the Pacific Association by storm in the first two games he hasplayed with the Stompers. He has six hits and six runs driven in only two games, and he finished Friday’s game 4 for 5 with a home run and four driven in. Fox was on base five times for the second consecutive night and finished 3 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored. 

Baptista had an impressive at bat in the eighth as he launched his third home run of the season over the left field wall. Baptista finished 3 for 6 with three runs batted in. The second-year player went the other way with the pitch on the outside part of the plate, showing he was up to the challenge when the pitch came. “They have been pounding me with pitches on the outside all season long,” Baptista said. “I was looking for a fastball and when I got the pitch I was looking for on the outer half, I trusted my instincts and decided to go the other way.

Jose Flores continued his outstanding success in a late inning role by recording his third save, retiring the final eight outs to do so. Flores allowed only one hit and struck out three to finish things off, and in his five appearances out of the bullpen, he has a 1.25 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Sonoma (29-23, 6-7 second half) will send Taylor Thurber to the mound to try to keep the momentum going against the Pacifics (29-23, 8-5 second half). Thurber has been nothing short of brilliant since being moved into the rotation, having gone the distance in two straight starts while featuring the second lowest ERA in the Pacific Association at 2.60. 

Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Tickets and fan gear are also available at The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information on the team contact the front office at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score

Stompers Walk-Off To Win Series Against Pacifics

Derrick Fox reached base in all five of his plate appearances Thursday in a 6-5 win for the Stompers. Fox was 2 for 2 with three walks and an RBI. 

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

For the second time in the series the Stompers found themselves in a four run hole in the beginning of Thursday night's game. Jake Taylor continued his success from the previous night at the plate, and things were looking very bleak for the Stompers. Yet like Tuesday night's game, this particular game had many twists and turns, with the result coming down to the final inning. 

The Pacifics and Stompers went into the bottom of the ninth tied after the Stompers once again mounted a comeback. Clint Manzo allowed two runners to reach, which brought in Pacifics closer JR Bunda. Bunda has been one of the toughest late inning relievers in the Pacific Association this season with 10 saves coming into the game. Uncharacteristically, Bunda walked Derrick Fox on four pitches to set up a bases loaded situation for the newly signed Randy Santiesteban. The Florida native sent all the fans home happy with a walk off single to left to give the Stompers a 6-5 win.

Playing in his first game for the Stompers, the shortstop definitely made sure that fans would remember his name with a great overall performance. He finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs and was great defensively at shortstop as well. “I am here for the team. I will to do whatever this team needs me to do to win,” Santiesteban said. “Whether it means sacrificing my body or an at bat, it’s just about winning. I already feel like I know all the guys on this team and will continue to fight for them,” Santiesteban said. 

Another key element to this comeback victory was a sensational outing from Evan Neiser out of the bullpen for the Stompers. The deceptive left-hander threw 2 1/3 perfect innings to pick up his first victory out of the pen. Neiser was sensational in the series throwing 4 1/3 innings without allowing a baserunner. 

Neiser went through the top of the Pacifics order in the ninth to give the Stompers the opportunity to win the game in the bottom half. Neiser knows who he is as a pitcher and pitched to his strengths well to help Sonoma secure a win. “For me it’s about locating the ball in the right spot and changing the speed so hitters don’t make solid contact,” Neiser said. “I want to put my strengths against other players’ weaknesses. For example, I saw Taylor had homered off of fastballs in the series so I tried to give him a pitch that looked like a fastball to get him to chase,” Neiser said. 

The Stompers got on the comeback trail in the sixth and seventh innings with five runs to tie the game. Fox got the scoring started in the sixth with a double to knock in Caleb Bryson. Fox was 2 for 2 with three walks and a run scored reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. Bryson doubled home a run in the seventh and scored the tying run in that inning on a double steal. He finished 1 for 3 at the plate. 

The Stompers now hits the road for a three game series against the Pacifcs. Mike Jackson Jr. is scheduled to pitch on Friday night and has been outstanding in his last three starts. The charter member of the Stompers is 2-0 with a 0.52 ERA in his last two outings, and has pitched into the ninth inning in each of his last three. A win Friday could bring the Stompers (28-23, 5-7 second half) within two games of the Pacifics (29-22, 8-4second half) in the second half standings. 

Tickets for upcoming Stompers games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Stompers merchandise and tickets are also available inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. For more information about the Stompers, contact the Stompers front offices at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score

Bats Fall Silent In 3-1 Loss To Pacifics

Eddie Mora-Loera was one bright spot in a 3-1 loss to the Pacifics. Mora-Loera finished 2 for 3 on Wednesday night.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant

When a pitching staff allows only three hits in a game, like the Stompers staff did on Wednesday, that team usually wins. On top of that, the Stompers staff allowed only one earned run against their rivals in the San Rafael Pacifics. However, a few miscues defensively and a quiet offensive night led to a 3-1 loss. 

A throwing error made by Mason Morioka in the fifth proved to be a very costly one as it led to two unearned runs in the inning, giving the Pacifics a 3-0 lead. Stompers starter Oliver Garcia also walked two batters in the inning to fuel the rally for the Pacifics. The other run in the game came on a homer to left center by Jake Taylor in the fourth, his ninth of the season. Taylor went 2 for 4 with two runs driven in. Jourdan Weiks was the only other Pacifics batter that had a hit in the game. 

Patrick Barnett went the distance for the Pacifics, allowing eight hits and no walks while striking out four. Barnett was extremely aggressive coming after Stompers hitters, but the Stompers consistently let Barnett work ahead in the count and that was a huge advantage for him. Barnett faced 33 batters and threw 24 first pitch strikes to those batters. 23 of those pitches were fastballs. Even with Barnett challenging the Stompers hitters, Sonoma only swung at six first pitch strikes. Barnett threw 78 of 110 pitches for strikes overall. 

Sonoma scored its only run in the sixth on an RBI single by Joel Carranza. Eddie Mora-Loera had another good night at the plate finishing 2 for 3. Mora-Loera is now 4 for 7 in the first two games of the series. Caleb Bryson also continued his success at the plate in the series with his second consecutive 2 for 4 performance. 

Stomper newcomer Evan Neiser was fantastic with two perfect innings out of the pen, as his deceptive delivery helped keep the Pacifics off balance. Neiser signed with the Stompers after participating in the midseason tryout on July 23. Neiser may be the diamond in the rough the Stompers were looking for. 

The rubber match of this series will be very important for the moral of this club. The comeback victory Tuesday seemed to give The Stompers a lot of momentum. But a series defeat would be deflating after that performance. Sonoma (27-23, 4-7 second half) also needs a win to stay within striking distance of the Pacifics (29-21, 8-4 second half) in the second half pennant race. Gregory Paulino will start on the mound for the Stompers.

Tickets for upcoming home games are available on stompersbaseball.com. Fan gear, and tickets are also available inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. For more information, contact the Stompers front office at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Box Score