SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers hosted the Salina Stockade for the final time in 2019 on Tuesday night. The Stompers trailed early but for the second straight game, a grand slam put them ahead in the middle innings.
Konner Arnold (5-5) took the mound for Zack Pace’s Stompers but he struggled throughout his start. Cody Bishop walked on 4 pitches against Arnold to open the ballgame and later scored on an RBI single by Cosimo Cannella to give Salina an early 1-0 lead.
The lead extended in the top of the 2nd inning on a Kyle Ulanday 2-run home run, his 2nd, off the scoreboard in left center to give the Stockade a 3-0 lead.
The Stompers offense finally got on the board against Salina lefty Ben Herrick (3-5) in the bottom of the 4th inning. Rob DeAngelis reached on an error by Rodriguez at first base on a ground ball that kicked into foul territory, allowing DeAngelis to go to second. With 1 out,Miles Williams and Pedro Barrios worked back-to-back walks to load the bases. With 2 outs, Rayson Romero walked to drive in a run and put the Stompers on the board 3-1.
Salina got one back on an RBI double by Ryan Rodriguez to make it 4-1, knocking Arnold out of the game after just 4 innings in which he allowed 4 runs on 11 hits and 4 walks with just 1 strikeout.
Marshall Shill (1-0) came into the game with a runner at second and nobody out and struck out the side.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Stompers finally figured Herrick out. Nick Gotta led off the inning with a single and Jacob Barfield was hit by a pitch to put 2 runners on. Rob DeAngelis then looped a base hit down threw left field line to score Gotta and make it a 2-run game, 4-2.Chris Kwitzer worked a walk to load the bases for Williams to swung at the first pitch and launched a grand slam into the trees in left field, giving the Stompers their first lead of the game 6-4. With still nobody out, Barrios banged a single to left field before Herrick induced back-to-back strikeouts. With 2 outs now, Matt Hibbert walked to put men on first and second. Gotta, hitting for the second time in the inning, singled again to drive in Barrios but Bishop booted the ball in center, allowing Hibbert to score all the way from first, extending the lead 8-4.
Jacob Cox (3-0) pitched the 6th, allowing one hit, one walk and he struck out the side.
Spencer Backstrom came on to pitch for the Stompers in the top of the 7th, walking a pair and striking out a pair to stand a couple of runners.
Lenny Gwizdala tossed a clean 8th, striking out a batter and giving way for Ryan Richardson (2-0) who did allow a hit but stranded the runner at third as he collected a pair of strikeouts as well as the Stompers come from behind to beat Salina 8-4.
The Stompers are home again on Wednesday night against the Vallejo Admirals at 6:05.