Stompers, Admirals vie for lead

A seven-run rogue wave in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 10-5 victory over the San Rafael Pacifics kept the Sonoma Stompers afloat at Albert Park.

Wednesday’s win meant that the Stompers and the Vallejo Admirals are tied for the second-half lead with identical 19-13 marks.

“We’re confident in the seventh, eighth, ninth innings that we’re going to battle, we’re going to get guys on base and we’re going to score,” said center fielder Matt Hibbert. “I think just knowing that we’ve done it before just gives us that confidence that we can do it again.”

Sonoma starter Erik Gonsalves did not allow an earned run until the seventh, when San Rafael sailed through a 3-1 Stompers lead. Trailing by two runs, Sonoma answered back with five hits, including a grand slam off the bat of Joel Carranza.

“It feels great to put your team ahead and help your team win. Now, in crunch time, with (the Vallejo Admirals) doing as good as they are, and us doing as good as we are, it’s a big thing to do,” Carranza said.

Earlier this season, Carranza broke the league record for career home runs at Albert Park. His shot on Wednesday was his 13th of the year.

Hibbert was also an offensive force Wednesday, going four-for-six, scoring twice and driving in a run.

“We just want to apply pressure in any way. It can come by a hit, it can come by me walking or getting on base somehow, some way. But once I’m on, I feel confident that I can get over to second base and find a way to score,” Hibbert said.

Brennan Metzger and Daniel Baptista also continued to deliver for Sonoma. Metzger went two-for-four with two RBIs and Baptista was one-for-three with two walks and two runs.

Through his first six innings, Gonsalves allowed no earned runs, issued no walks and gave up just three hits.

Together in relief, newcomer Logan Gillaspie and 2017 stalwart Zach Wendorf shut down the Pacifics.

“We control our own destiny,” Hibbert said. “We’re focused on what we have to do, not looking elsewhere.”

Tuesday, the Stompers lost just their second extra-inning contest of the season with a 5-4 loss to the Pacifics.

Offense came in bursts in the game, which gave the Pacifics their first extra-inning victory of the season. Prior to extras, all but three frames were scoreless.

Ty’Relle Harris, in his return to the mound for the Stompers after a brief stint in the American Association, pitched five shutout innings, striking out eight and not issuing a single walk. All four runs came in the sixth inning – three on a home run off the bat of Cameron Monger.

DJ Sharabi also executed another excellent outing, coming into the game with an earned run average of zero in his last eight appearances. Sharabi has not allowed a run since Aug. 2.

In the ninth, the Pacifics loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch. But Jacob Cox struck out Jake Taylor to send the game to extra innings.

Baptista, who went three-for-four with a walk and an RBI, started a rally in the fifth that left the Stompers with a 4-0 lead. Baptista came into the game hitting .389 in the last seven days.

In the 10th, a critical base-running mishap and an excellent play by Pacifics catcher Ricky Gingras combined to secure the Stompers’ downfall.

The Stompers closed out their series with the Pacifics Thursday night, results not available at press time.

Sonoma opens a three-game series at Vallejo tonight, Friday, and continues Saturday and Sunday. The Stompers close out the regular season with a three-game series at Pittsburg Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.