Brennan Metzger (left) hit a home run in the eighth inning of Saturday night's 7-5 win over the Pittsburg Diamonds, securing the Sonoma Stompers' first series victory of the season. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
Hayley M. Slye / Media Relations
PITTSBURG, Calif.– A four-run seventh inning proved to be the difference for the defending Pacific Association champion Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, in Saturday’s 7-5 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds.
After all but quieting the Sonoma offense and defending a 3-0 lead through six innings, Diamonds starter Tyler Stirewalt gave the Stompers two free baserunners with a walk and hit batsman in the seventh. Pittsburg first baseman Vinny Guglietti then gave Sonoma another free pass, letting a grounder slip under his glove as Scott David scored.
knocked the two-run single Saturday to tie the game at three after a heroic effort in Friday night’s game in which he came up with a pinch-hit double to drive in the winning runs for Sonoma.
With Mora-Loera on first, Yuki Yasuda collected an RBI double for his first hit of the season to give the Stompers a one-run lead. Brennan Metzger all but sealed the fate of the Diamonds with a two-run shot in the eighth to put Sonoma up 6-3.
Stompers starter Juan Espinosa got into a pair of jams early in the game Friday, loading the bases in the second, then giving up a single to give the Diamonds an early lead. Espinosa limited the damage to one run as the Diamonds left the bases loaded.
Espinosa ran into more trouble in the third. Former Stomper Caleb Bryson hit a two-run shot in that frame, putting the Diamonds up 3-0. The score stayed at 3-0 until the seventh with Stirewalt limiting the Stompers to just two hits, back-to-back singles from David and Metzger.
Espinosa picked up the win Saturday, with Stirewalt taking the loss.
The Diamonds cut the lead to two in the bottom of the ninth against John Kovalik, but the Stompers hung on for the 7-5 win.
Pittsburg falls to 0-2 on the season with the loss while Sonoma remains undefeated. Starter Tyler Garkow is scheduled to make his Stompers debut in the last game of the series at Winter Chevrolet Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
STOMPERS TICKETS
Opening Day at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field is June 13. Tickets and merchandise are available now either online, at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street or at the box office on game day.
Use promo code "OPENINGDAY" to receive 15% off of home opener tickets online.
For more information, contact the front office at 707-938-7277.