Stompers to test 5-game winning streak against Pacifics

The Stompers’ winning ways continued over the past weekend as they built on a streak that finds them nipping at the heels of the Pacific Association leader with 17 wins in their last 21, the last five in a row, and 37-17 on the season.

Problem is, the San Rafael Pacifics (37-15) have been winning too, and are currently on a six-game winning streak that keeps them atop the standings. The two teams will face off at Palooza Park on Tuesday and Wednesday this week in what promises to be baseball as good as it gets at Arnold Field.

Last week found the Sonoma Stompers beating the Napa Silverados 6-5 on Thursday, a marathon 4-hour, 14-minute game that nonetheless only ran nine innings. But 13 errors, 11 hits by each team and seesaw scoring kept the tension high. Marcus Bradley scored on an error in the top of the night for the winning run, and Jacob Cox came in for the save, his 17th of the season.

Friday night the two teams were scoreless through the first three, promising a pitcher’s duel that was not to be. The Stompers eventually mounted an offensive onslaught that brought 13 runs across the plate, including a homer by Kevin Farley, his fifth on the year. In fact, the Stompers scored in every inning after the third, chipping away at a big lead the Silverados grabbed with a six-run fifth.

Ty’Relle Harris came on in relief during that six-run rally, successfully shutting down the Silverados and coming away with the win. It was one of his best outings so far this year - in his 10th year of professional baseball, the right-hander allowed just one run and four hits over the final 4-plus innings while striking out six batters.

“When you stay simple, you get good results, so I tried to stay simple today,” Harris said. “Sometimes I’m a high-energy guy and that can play against me… Sometimes I need to take the other approach, the ABC’s of baseball. Get ahead, stay ahead and try and work down.”

Saturday and Sunday the Stompers returned to Arnold Field for a two-game series with the Pittsburg Diamonds, and once again the competitive nature of Pacific League baseball delivered two tight games. Saturday’s went into ten innings tied at 3-3, and Bradley proved the hero once again, this time driving home Kam Steward to give the Stompers a walk-off win.

The momentum continued on Sunday, as the two teams met up under smoky skies from regional fires. The Diamonds drew first blood with a three-run first, though the Stompers got one back as a lead-off single by Marcus Bradley eventually turned into a run after a sacrifice fly put him in range to score on a Daniel Baptista single.

The Stompers added three more in the second, but as the ninth inning began they trailed 9-8. In that inning, Rayson Romero singled to tie the game at nine each, then Miles Williams ended it with a two-run blast to left field, his 19th on the year, for the Stompers second straight walk-off win. Williams also had five RBIs on the night, making his bat a valuable part of the Stompers offense.

All eyes will be on Arnold Field for the next two days, as the second-place Stompers meet league-leading Pacifics for two games, Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. each evening.

To purchase Stompers tickets and to find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com.