Eddie Mora-Loera went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a home run in Thursday's 5-1 victory over the Vallejo Admirals at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
Hayley M. Slye / Media Relations
SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, secured their second sweep of the season with a 5-1 victory over the Vallejo Admirals on Thursday.
The last game of the Stompers’ opening homestand at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field began as a pitchers’ duel. Sonoma starter Tyler Garkow struck out eight in seven innings while Admirals’ starter Brent Adheen allowed four hits through six.
Both arms kept the scoreboard at zero throughout most of the game until Eddie Mora-Loera struck first for the Stompers in the sixth. Mora-Loera had already hit one double in the game before sending a towering home run to left field. It was the first Sonoma home run of the season at Arnold Field.
“I love it. The people (at home) are so supportive–the fans, the host families. They’re behind us all the way,” Mora-Loera said. “It’s always good to do it for them.”
The Admirals were quick to even the score in the next inning as catcher Andrew Rubalcava hit one of his own to right, but the Stompers struck back in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases by taking advantage of an Admirals error and a well-placed bunt. They didn’t miss any opportunities after that, as Scott David and Mora-Loera hit a pair of two-RBI base hits to keep the Admirals at bay.
“The Sonoma Stompers are a really good team right now. Up and down the lineup you have a lot of experience,” Mora-Loera said. “Somebody’s going to have the big hit. I just got lucky.”
DJ Sharabi and Ryan Richardson retired six out of the seven batters they faced in relief of Garkow, proving the Stompers’ bullpen a nearly-impenetrable force on Thursday.
“(The bullpen) is doing their job,” Mora-Loera said. “They’re hitting their spots, they’re throwing offspeed pitches. They’re pitching, they’re not just throwing.”
Sonoma entered the game as the only team in the Pacific Association with a record of over .500. The victory secures the second series sweep of the season for the Stompers, who outscored Vallejo 26-9 in the series.
The Stompers have a knack for opening days as they also swept their season-opening series against the Pittsburg Diamonds.
Sonoma improves to 9-3 on the season, two games ahead of the next-best Diamonds in the Pacific Association standings. The team heads to San Rafael on Friday for a weekend series against the rival Pacifics.
STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.
For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.