Juan Espinosa's Complete-Game Shutout Fuels 5-0 Sonoma Stompers Victory over Pittsburg Diamonds

Sonoma Stompers starter Juan Espinosa pitched a complete-game shutout in Tuesday's 5-0 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds and has allowed just one earned run in his last three starts. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Sonoma Stompers starter Juan Espinosa pitched a complete-game shutout in Tuesday's 5-0 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds and has allowed just one earned run in his last three starts. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, secured a 5-0 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds on Tuesday behind starter Juan Espinosa, who pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out seven.

“Everything (was working for me,)” Espinosa said. “My cutter was on, my curveball was on, and when I needed my fastball it was there.”

It is Espinosa’s third solid outing in a row. In his last three starts, Espinosa has walked only three, allowed just one earned run, 12 hits and 22 strikeouts. On Tuesday, he threw first-pitch strikes to 30 of the 34 batters he faced.

“We just stuck to a game plan today. We talked about it in the first inning and executed all day, stayed extremely focused. Espy did an unbelievable job of doing that through all nine innings,” said catcher Isaac Wenrich.

The game was a pitcher’s duel in the early on, as Dennis Neal went six and two thirds innings, striking out three and allowing two earned runs. His only blemish on the scoreboard was a two-run home run from Joel Carranza in the first inning.

“You could tell, the first two innings, we were jumping at the first two pitches and it worked out,” manager Takashi Miyoshi said.  

In his last game at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark, Carranza also hit a three-run homer in the first inning. His shot Tuesday is his second homer in two games, as Carranza also sent one over the fence in Sunday’s matchup with the Vallejo Admirals.

The shot on Tuesday was the 51st of Carranza’s Pacific Association career. He leads the league all-time in career HR.

The Stompers play the Diamonds nine times in their next 12 games. Sonoma improves to 22-6 on the season, seven games ahead of the next-best Diamonds. Pittsburg falls to 15-13 overall and will look to gain ground on the Stompers Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

“Nothing’s for sure yet. They can always come back. Tomorrow, I’m just going to be humble again and take it one day at a time,” Miyoshi said.

WOMEN IN SPORTS NIGHT: JULY 6

The Stompers will celebrate Women in Sports Night on Thursday, and want to hear what Stompers baseball means to you or a woman you know. Use the hashtag #MYSTOMPERSSTORY to share yours.

Fans can use promo code “THERELISH” to get 20 percent off of tickets for July 6 and merchandise online. Thanks to the Relish, which serves up sports coverage for female fans, the Stompers intend to raise awareness about the gender pay gap in the United States.

Since women make 80 percent of what men make on average, the promo code offers a baseball ticket for 80 percent of the normal price.

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.