Stompers tumble from 2nd-half top spot

The all-important weeklong series for the Sonoma Stompers with the rival San Rafael Pacifics ended in disastrous fashion this past weekend, as the Pacifics came into Arnold Field and took all three games from Sonoma to send them tumbling down the second half standings.

Entering Thursday’s matchup tied for first place with San Rafael in the second half, the Stompers lost each of their next four games with the Pacifics, including a blowout loss on Sunday afternoon that finished off the first sweep against Sonoma at home this season.

Sunday’s 15-2 loss was all San Rafael from the get-go, as the Pacifics scored five times in the first inning thanks to a pair of home runs. From there, they scored at least two times in four of the next five innings, with 18 hits in all.

It was the biggest loss of the season for Sonoma and the second-most runs allowed, as the Pacifics jumped all over Eric Schwieger for 10 runs in the first three-plus innings. Gered Mochizuki hit his third home run of the season and Mark Hurley drove in a run with a single, but it was all the offense the Stompers would get that day.

Saturday’s loss proved to be a tough one, as the Stompers had a 2-0 lead and a 3-2 lead later in the game before San Rafael used three straight hits in the eighth to overtake Sonoma on their way to a 5-3 win.

Sonoma got a great starting pitching performance from Santos Saldivar, whose only mistake was a hanging breaking ball to Matt Chavez, who laced it up and out for a two-run home run in the sixth to tie the ballgame. Otherwise, he was stellar, striking out seven batters in six innings.

Friday night’s game was another matchup that was close early on, but the Pacifics took advantage of their run scoring opportunities later in the game highlighted by another Matt Chavez homer to pull away for a 9-3 win.

The Stompers left the bases loaded three times in the game and left 12 on base in all, the third time this week they left that many men on the basepaths.

Sonoma is now 14-13 in the second half, a game behind the second place Pittsburg Diamonds and four games behind San Rafael. They will host the Diamonds tonight for the first of three games at Arnold Field. All games this week begin at 6 p.m., with the gates opening at 5 p.m. Tickets begin at $4 and can be purchased online at StompersBaseball.com or in person at either the Stompers Fan Shop at 234 W. Napa St. or the Arnold Field box office before any game. For more information, call 938-7277.