Vallejo stymies Stompers twice

On the verge of beginning a long stretch of Pacific Association of Professional Baseball League home games after three weeks and 20 games of road action, the Sonoma Stompers ran into a road block by the name of P.J. Phillips in the first of a three-game series Tuesday at Wilson Park in Vallejo.

Wielding a highly productive bat, Phillips, who’s the younger brother of major league all-star Brandon Phillips, went a perfect four-for-four, including a double, three singles and five RBIs in powering the Admirals to a 7-4 win over visiting Sonoma.

Actually, the Stompers supplied some power of their own by hitting three solo home runs in the game.

Sonoma’s Joel Carranza yanked a ball far over the left field fence for a second inning homer; Charlie Mirabal lasered a four-bagger beyond the center field wall in the sixth; and Reid Chenworth had a three-hit night, including a home run to right-center field.

Vallejo’s Bryan Herrera pitched seven strong innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits without a walk and striking out four.

In Wednesday night’s second game of the three-game set in Vallejo, the Stompers staked southpaw pitcher Eric Schwieger to an early lead and, in his first start of the season, he didn’t allow any runs through four innings.

Unfortunately, in the fifth frame, Schwieger allowed five runs, though only one was earned, with Vallejo’s Jerry Gonzalez’s three-RBI double giving the Admirals the lead.

Then, with the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Vallejo put together a rally that overtook the Stompers, with Carlos Martinez’ late-inning RBI single sealing a 7-5 victory for the Admirals.

Sonoma was paced by Carranza’s three-for-four with two runs and an RBI; and catcher Andrew Parker’s double and three RBIs.

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.