Stompers come up short by a run twice at home

Facing two separate Pacific Association rivals on successive nights at Arnold Field, the Sonoma Stompers found themselves on the short end of both scorecards, as late-game comebacks worked against them.

The rare single-game series started on Tuesday night against the San Rafael Pacifics, and all looked well as the offense kicked into motion by scoring five runs in the first two innings. Home runs from Kam Stewart and Daniel Comstock helped build the Stompers’ lead early.

Patrick Conroy pitched well through the first three innings, but San Rafael chipped away on the Stompers’ lead, eventually pushing ahead in the fourth inning and carrying a four-run advantage through seven, 9-5.

But Sonoma did not give in, as Robert Maislin delivered two shutout innings to keep his team in the game. That allowed Comstock to bring the Stompers within two runs on his second homer of the day, another two-run shot, bringing the score to 9-7.

Even though the Stompers threatened big-time in the ninth, loading the bases and bringing the tying run to third base, the comeback could not culminate as the Pacifics held on for the 9-8 victory.

The next night was Independence Day, and Sonoma was abuzz between the morning parade and evening fireworks. The Stompers hoped to rebound against the Vallejo Admirals, but the nail-biting contest concluded in favor of the visitors, with the Admirals pulling out on top 5-4 in front of a season-high crowd of 875 fans – most of whom stayed for the fireworks show at nearby Vallejo Home, at 9:30 p.m.

Rob DeAngelis’ got the scoring started in the third with an RBI double, pushing Kevin Farley across, and matching Vallejo’s four runs to a 4-4 tie as the ninth inning started.

Dominic Topoozian turned in yet another stellar performance, pitching eight innings for the first time in his career and striking out eight along the way, also a single-game career high. But he gave up four runs, including a homer in the fifth, and left the game behind on a 4-2 score.

But the Stompers, as they have all season long, refused to give in, putting up five hits of their own in the bottom of the eighth. Marcus Bradley and Daniel Baptista contributed doubles, while Kenny Meimerstorf and Miles Williams added RBI singles to the cause, sending the game to the ninth tied 4-4.

Vallejo took the lead in the top of the ninth and despite Daniel Comstock’s second hit of the day, the Stompers 10th, Sonoma could not complete the comeback, falling for the second straight night by a single run, this time 5-4.

Thursday night, the Stompers met the Napa Silverados for the first of a two-game series, results not available at press time. Both Thursday and Friday’s games have a 6:05 p.m. start time.

To purchase Stompers tickets and to find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com, or call 938-7277.