Ty'Relle Harris struck out nine and allowed just one run in his Sonoma Stompers debut Wednesday at Wilson Park. Sonoma won 4-1 over the Vallejo Admirals, remaining undefeated. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
Hayley M. Slye / Media Relations
SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, remain undefeated after Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over the Vallejo Admirals.
Sonoma now owns a 5-0 record on the season after erupting for 38 runs in their first four games.
“That’s baseball for you,” said Stompers starter Ty’Relle Harris. “You can score 40 runs in two or three games, come out and score one the next game.”
Harris, in his ninth season of professional baseball, made his Stompers debut Wednesday, allowing only one run while striking out nine in his seven-inning performance.
“The first inning I kind of overthrowing a little bit, I was real excited to be a Stomper and come out here and show my stuff. Once I settled in and got my fastball through the knees, we were able to go cutter off the same plane,” Harris said. “It all starts with fastball command. If you can go through the knees, you make guys’ days a lot tougher.”
Harris and Stompers manager Takashi Miyoshi both spent time with the American Association’s Grand Prairie Air Dogs in 2014.
“Nothing surprised me,” Miyoshi said. “We are just lucky to have him.”
Harris set the tone for his stellar night early. The veteran gave up a single to start the first, but struck out Gerald Bautista with runners on the corners to end the inning. Bautista went into the matchup hitting a Pacific Association-leading .556 and coming off a 3-3 performance.
The Sonoma defense was impenetrable in the matchup as the Stompers ended three innings on double plays.
“Double plays were huge, I was kind of in little jams,” Harris said. “Once you can get two outs on one pitch, you kind of trust it more and say 'hey, here, hit the ball, I got my guys behind me.' I appreciate those fellas and looking forward to getting out there next week and doing it again.”
Two out of five Stompers hits came off the bat of rookie Matt LoCoco Wednesday. LoCoco continued a streak of prowess at the plate, smacking his second triple in two days to put Sonoma up 2-0 in the fifth.
Despite two hits through seven (both from LoCoco), the Stompers wrangled a 3-0 lead in that span. Centerfielder Matt Hibbert also surpassed catcher Isaac Wenrich for the team lead in stolen bases, collecting three Wednesday as the team collected nine total.
“In pro ball, sometimes you just can’t hit because you’re facing all good pitchers,” Miyoshi said. “We’re the type of team, we see a little thing and take advantage of it. Even without hitting, I’m the type of manager who can score.”
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.
Use promo code "OPENINGDAY" to receive 15% off of home opener tickets online.
For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.