Stompers launch final push for league title

With only two weeks to go in the season and a four-game lead to make up in to win the wire-to-wire championship in 2015, the Sonoma Stompers started their penultimate week of the season with a three-game series against second-place Pittsburg.

The Diamonds found success against Vallejo last week, taking five of six games and pulling slightly ahead of Sonoma in the second-half standings. On Tuesday, Pittsburg came to Sonoma to begin a crucial three-game series that could determine who will have the best shot at first place San Rafael down the stretch.

For the Stompers, Tuesday’s game was as sweet a victory as they have had in 2015. Behind a sensational pitching performance by Gregory Paulino, the Stompers shut out the Diamonds 4-0 to pull into a second-place tie with Pittsburg.

It was Paulino’s second shutout this season, following a stellar four-hitter back on June 24 against the Vallejo Admirals, when he had a season-best 12 strikeouts.

This time around, it was a six-hitter, and he didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight.

Paulino threw 103 pitches, with 80 going for strikes. He touched 92 MPH on the in-house radar gun and had Pittsburg flailing at sliders and change-ups all night long. He only allowed a runner past second base twice in the entire game.

Sonoma’s offense was steady against Rob Ellis but they played small ball to push across most of their runs on the night. After a double in the second, Mark Hurley stole third and headed home on an errant throw by catcher Nick Oddo for the first run.

The following two runs came when Ellis hit Daniel Baptista with a pitch in a bases-loaded situation in the fifth, and Yuki Yasuda hit a hard single that deflected off the glove of Rich Mejia at third to score Peter Bowles.

Gered Mochizuki provided the exciting finish, homering to deep right-center for his fourth long ball of the season. Matt Hibbert also added two hits for the Stompers.

Wednesday’s game was looking like another Sonoma win behind early offense from Andrew Parker and Yasuda. However, Sean Conroy had issues in the fifth and gave up a go-ahead double to Joe Lewis to give Pittsburg a lead they would not relinquish on their way to an 11-6 victory.

In the loss, Mochizuki and Yasuda each had big night. Both players went 3-for-4 with a walk each, with Yasuda driving in a run and scoring twice.

The two teams finished their three-game set in Sonoma on Thursday night with the results not available at press time.

Tonight, the Stompers will begin their final trip around the Pacific Association, beginning with a three-game series at Wilson Park in Vallejo against the Admirals. The Stompers last visited the Admirals a month ago, taking five out of six in a week-long series that included a three-game sweep to begin the season’s second half.

Sonoma returns home on Tuesday, Aug. 25, to begin their final home series of the season against the Diamonds. The season ends with three crucial games against the Pacifics in San Rafael, Aug. 28 to 30.

Tickets are available at StompersBaseball.com and can be purchased at the Stompers Fan Shop at 234 W. Napa St.

For additional information, call 938-7277.