Stompers keep winning, make moves

Talking about a busy, but productive, week, the Sonoma Stompers concluded a six-straight-game Pacific Association of Professional Baseball League road series battling the Pittsburg Mettle and they made it a winning venture.

After splitting the first two games of the six-game set, the Stompers got back-to-back pitching gems from their two Wills, Will Krout and Will Scott, and posted a pair of victories at City Park Field No. 1 in Pittsburg.

Last Thursday evening, Krout improved his record to 3-0 by pitching his first complete game of the season, and, along with Sonoma's three, four and five batters in the order – Jayce Ray, Steve Rinaudo and Joel Carranza – who combined for seven hits, and six RBIs, earned a 6-2 triumph over the Mettle.

Krout finished his nine-inning mound performance allowing two runs, one earned, while scattering six hits, striking out three and walking one, and Carranza homered.

Also on Thursday, the Stompers made several moves, including the signing of infielder Charlie Mirabal and catcher Andrew Parker, the releasing of Kyle Jones and Thomas McAlpine, and the placing of Tommy Lyons on the seven-day inactive list.

In Friday night's weekend-starting showdown, Scott came off three tough, losing starts with an impressive winning effort, striking out a season-high nine batters, walking three and allowing five singles in 7-2/3 innings for his first win of the season – a close 5-4 Sonoma victory over the Mettle.

On offense, Stompers' first-baseman Caranza again stepped up on offense, following Rinaudo’s double in the top of the fourth with a two-run homer, his third on the season, and added an RBI single in the fifth.

Rinaudo finished with two hits and scored two runs; Matt Marquis had a hit and scored a run; T.J. Gavlik added an RBI single; new infielder Mirabal doubled and catcher Parker drew two walks and scored a run; and Mike Jackson Jr. pitched the ninth and preserved the Sonoma win.

Saturday’s fifth game of the series saw the Stompers nip Pittsburg 3-2 in 11 innings to clinch the series. Shortstop Aritz Garcia went 3-for-5 including a home run and Ray added his second home run of the season as Yuki Sakama got the win in relief for the Stompers.

Then in Sunday’s series finale, Sonoma dropped an 11-5 decision as former Giant Wayne Franklin tossed a complete game for the Mettle, surrendering eight hits.

For the Stompers, Rinaudo went 3-for-5 and drove in one run, Ray was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

The Stompers are in second place with an 11-7 record, trailing league-leading San Rafael by a half-game.

Sonoma was off Monday and will resume play today, Tuesday with a three-game series at Vallejo.

Sonoma’s home opener takes place Tuesday evening, July 1, at Arnold Field, with Stompers’ season tickets currently on sale at stompersbaseball.com or eventbrite.com/e/2014-sonoma-stompers-season-tickets-33-home-games-tickets-11232656177.

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