STOMPERS SHUTOUT ADMIRALS BY LARGEST MARGIN IN LEAGUE HISTORY

Kam Stewart celebrates with Rob DeAngelis (21) after hitting his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Vallejo Admirals, August 15, 2018 in Vallejo, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

VALLEJO, Calif. – In the most lopsided shutout in the history of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs, the Sonoma Stompers routed the Vallejo Admirals 18-0 Wednesday night behind 20 hits and a stellar outing from Vijay Patel.

The 18-run difference in the game was not only the largest margin for a shutout victory in the league, but ties for the largest margin in a game ever in the league, when the Pittsburg Diamonds topped the Admirals 19-1 on Aug. 11, 2016.

The 18 runs and 20 hits were both single-game highs for the team as a whole this season. Only once in the team’s history has Sonoma scored more than 18 runs, June 17, 2017, when they put up 20 on San Rafael. 20 hits ties the team’s single-game record, which had been previously done twice, most recently on July 13, 2017, against the Pittsburg Diamonds.

Ten different Stompers record hits, with six connecting for more than one. Nine players drove in at least one run and eight Stompers scored runs, including Brock Hartley, who set a team record by becoming the first player to score five runs in a game.

Hartley broke out to go 3-4 on the day with three runs batted in, including a two-run single in the first and a solo home run that led off the sixth inning.

“In the first couple of games, I just wasn’t there and couldn’t contribute to the team,” Hartley said. “I’m glad today that I got to contribute, got to show my true colors today. Glad we got the W in a big way.”

The Stompers started the scoring quickly in the first with a six-run frame, the first of four times in the game the team batted around.

Kam Stewart launched a two-run home run to kick things off, then Daniel Baptista brough Kenny Meimerstorf home, Hartley singled in two and Rayson Romero drove in his first of three runs in the game with his first of two doubles on the night

The scoring picked back up in the third when Rob DeAngelis singled in two, then two more runs scored on a Meimerstorf single.

After Hartley’s sixth inning home run, which made the score 11-0, the Stompers struck for four more in the seventh, as Ryan Cooper singled in one run, Romero doubled in two and DeAngelis singled in one more.

Despite a 15-0 lead, Sonoma’s offense did not stop, adding on three more in the eighth with Bronson Butcher’s first run batted in as a Sonoma Stomper, Niko Pacheco’s first hit and RBI with Sonoma and DeAngelis’ fourth run driven in on the night.

In the ninth, Butcher and Meimerstorf each took their seventh at-bats of the game, becoming the first ever Stompers to record more than six in one contest.

While the offense made nearly all of the storylines, Vijay Patel pitched a gem for his team, throwing seven shutout innings on just four hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts.

“It was just competing down in the zone and hitting spots,” Patel said. “If you take a pitch off with [the Admirals] they’ll take advantage and it can become four runs like no other, they’ve got some good guys on the team. So it’s not taking a pitch off, winning every pitch and trusting an 18-run lead they gave me, it’s amazing.

Patel picked up his seventh win of the season, which now leads the team.

Two innings of scoreless relief from Joseph Broderick gave the Stompers’ pitching staff  28 strikeouts and just two walks in the two-game series with the Admirals.

Vallejo and Sonoma do battle once more as the Stompers welcome in the Admirals for the first game of a four-game homestand, before the Pittsburg Diamonds and Martinez Clippers come to town for the remainder of the series.

MATHEWS THROWS GEM IN WIN OVER ADMIRALS

Kenny Mathews delivers a pitch in the first inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Vallejo Admirals, August 14, 2018 in Vallejo, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

VALLEJO, Calif. – Looking to get back on track after a loss Sunday, the Sonoma Stompers scored early and rode a fantastic start from Kenny Mathews into a 5-2 victory over the Vallejo Admirals.

Mathews, making his fifth start with the Stompers, retired the first 17 Vallejo batters he faced, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning.

“We had something special going there,” Mathews said. “We were keeping it simple, getting ahead of guys … The defense made plays, we executed two-strike pitches and you get good results that way.”

While the Admirals struck for two hits and a run with two outs in the sixth, then added on one in the seventh, Mathews still still struck out 11 in the game, while not allowing any walks. Seven of these walks came consecutively between the first and third innings.

The Stompers offense backed their starter early with a three-run third inning, with Kenny Meimerstorf driving in Kevin Farley and Daniel Baptista scoring Kam Stewart.

Meimerstorf scored with two outs and the Stompers added insurance in the fourth with Rob DeAngelis singling home Ryan Cooper and the seventh when Stewart singled in Farley.

D.J. Sharabi pitched a scoreless eighth inning, with two strikeouts and Jacob Cox closed things down in the ninth with ease, striking out two to earn his 20th save of the year.

The Stompers look for the sweep when they return to Wilson Park to face the Admirals Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.

FORMER STOMPER GILLASPIE SIGNED BY BREWERS

SONOMA, Calif. – After pitching 10 games for the Sonoma Stompers last season, the team is proud to see pitcher Logan Gillaspie signed by the Milwaukee Brewers to a minor league contract.

A native of Bakersfield, Gillaspie signed with the Stompers in August 2017 and helped the team down the stretch prepare for the Pacific Association championship game.

“We’re excited to see Logan get an opportunity with an affiliated team,” general manager Brett Creamer said. “He was a competitor right out of the gate last season for us and he’s a player who helped us down the stretch. We’re happy to see him get promoted to the Milwaukee Brewers organization.”

In his time with the Stompers, the right-hander pitched 12.1 innings, including four in the league championship game with 17 strikeouts.

Before playing in Sonoma, he spent time with the Monterey Amberjacks of the Pecos League and Salina Stockade of the American Association in 2017, his first year in pro ball.

Gillaspie joined the Eastside Diamond Hoppers of the United Shore Professional Baseball League for the 2018 season, where after pitching to a 2.08 ERA over 26 innings, he signed with the Brewers and has since pitched seven games in their minor league system.

After two scoreless outings with the AZL Brewers, Gillaspie advanced to the Helena Brewers, where he has struck out seven batters over seven innings without waking anyone.

COX SETS SINGLE-SEASON SAVES RECORD

NAPA, Calif. – With his 1-2-3 inning Saturday evening, Sonoma Stompers closer Jacob Cox set the Pacific Association’s record for saves in a single season with his 19th of 2018.

The Fresno, California native broke the former Vallejo Admirals’ Sammy Gervacio record of 18 saves last season. Gervacio, who is currently in the Atlantic League for the New Britain Bees pitched for the Houston Astros in 2010.

“I’m trying to do my job every time I go out, the guys give us a chance to win every time,” Cox said. “You want to play for your teammates. Every time I go out on the mound, I’m doing it for them, not for me.”

Before Gervacio’s 18 saves in 2017, San Rafael’s Collin Allen had held the league’s single-season saves record of 16, set in 2014.

To go along with his 19 saves this season, the right-hander has won four games and pitched to a 2.73 ERA with 28 strikeouts.

Now in his third season with Sonoma, Cox has pitched in 62 games and 75.1 innings while wearing the orange and navy, recording 25 saves along the way.

“He’s the backbone of this team,” manager Zack Pace said. “Our bullpen is our strong point and Cox is the leader of that. Being the closer, he sets the tempo at the end and does a fantastic job for us.”

Cox has collected more saves than any other Sonoma Stomper pitcher in the franchises history. He now looks to cement himself as one of the greatest relievers in the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs history.

OFFENSE SPUTTERS AS STOMPERS SPLIT SERIES WITH SILVERADOS

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

NAPA, Calif. While they came back in the ninth Saturday night, the Sonoma Stompers’ offense could not pick up Sunday afternoon as they only managed four hits and fell to the Napa Silverados 3-0.

Tyler Sharp delivered another solid start, allowing just two earned runs over 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts.

Ryan Richardson and Cole Watts combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief after Sharp, doing their best to keep the team in the game.

Sonoma only managed four hits in the game, all singles. Rob DeAngelis singled in the first and both Brock Hartley and Eddie Mora-Loera singled in the second, but the offense was unable to find a way onto the scoreboard at any point, despite drawing eight walks.

Rayson Romero tried to start a rally with a one-out single in the ninth, but the rally was for not and the Stompers fell, shutout for the second time in 2018.

The team wraps up the current road trip with two games in Vallejo, 6:35 p.m. starts Tuesday and Wednesday.

FIVE RUN NINTH POWERS STOMPER COMEBACK

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

NAPA, Calif. – After a rough game the night before, the Sonoma Stompers played from behind all night long Saturday, then came back in the ninth inning to score five runs and win 9-6.

Napa jumped out to an early lead, scoring six runs over the first five innings to stay ahead of Sonoma from the start.

The Stomper bullpen was lights out once taking over, as Jason Seever, D.J. Sharabi, Juan Espinosa and Jacob Cox combined for 4.1 scoreless innings, with no walks and just two hits, to go along with six strikeouts.

While the Stompers were able to score in the second and fourth, including RBI singles both times from catcher Ryan Cooper, they could not climb back on top and entered the ninth inning trailing by two.

The bases immediately loaded after a walk to Brock Hartley, an Eddie Mora-Loera single and a Marcus Bradley walk. Rayson Romero singled in Hartley to bring Sonoma within one, then Rob DeAngelis gave his team the lead with his second RBI hit of the day, a two-run single scoring Mora-Loera and Bradley.

“I was down in the count, but I knew it wasn’t over,” DeAngelis said. “I got one I was able to hit and I luckily got it through the middle. I was happy to come through.

Kevin Farley and Kenny Meimerstorf each brought in another run, giving Cox a comfortable three-run lead to work with in the bottom half.

Sonoma’s closer worked a perfect inning to earn his 19th save of the year, setting a Pacific Association record for saves in a season.

“It’s very cool, but like I always say, it has to do with the team,” Cox said. “Without close games, there is no closing role, there is not save opportunity. Hats off to the rest of the guys, they’re the ones who give me the opportunities to do it.”

Looking for the sweep, the Stompers take on Napa again Sunday at 1 p.m.

WINNING STREAK ENDS WITH LOSS IN SAN RAFAEL

BOX SCORE

Rob DeAngelis had two hits, an RBI and a run scored in the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 10, 2018 in San Rafael, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Despite scoring first, thee Sonoma Stompers fell to the San Rafael Pacifics Friday night 11-3, as San Rafael had a counter for everything the Stompers did offensively.

The first three batters in the game reached base, as Rob DeAngelis singled, Kevin Farley walked and Kam Stewart doubled home DeAngelis. One run was all Sonoma could manage in the inning and the Pacifics went on to score nine over the following six innings.

DeAngelis doubled in Rayson Romero in the seventh and Daniel Baptista scored on an error in the eighth, but that was all the offense left in the tank as San Rafael scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth to lengthen their lead.

DeAngelis and Stewart each recorded two hits and drove in a run in the game, resulting in the entire offense for Sonoma.

The Stompers look to get back on track in Napa for two games Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.

WILLIAMS HEADED FOR ATLANTIC LEAGUE

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers are excited to announce that outfielder Miles Williams is the third player on the team to be promoted this season, as he will be joining the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks.

Williams, a first-year Stomper, played 60 games for Sonoma, hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 54 runs batted in. He ended his time in Sonoma on a strong note, setting the franchise’s single-season home run record.

“This season both Zack [Pace] and myself noticed a significant change in Miles' approach at the plate. While he'll always be a free swinger and instant threat at the plate, it was good to see his maturation process of his approach grow throughout the course of the season,” general manager Brett Creamer said. “While we'll all miss Miles, we're excited for his opportunity to join such a prestigious franchise in the Long Island Ducks. I wish him the best in their playoff run while he continuous his advancement in professional baseball.”

The Flower Mound, Texas native improved his game in nearly every facet from 2017 to 2018. Despite taking nearly 50 less at-bats this season, he his six more home runs, drove in four more runs and had the same number of hits, while also drawing four more walks.

“It’s been great, I’ve got to give it up to Brett [Creamer] and [Zack] Pace for giving me the opportunity to keep playing baseball,” Williams said. “It’s a blessing to have this opportunity, I’m just going to try and capitalize on it and keep everything simple. It’s been a pleasure. I love these dudes.”

The right fielder isn’t new to the Atlantic League, the 2018 season will be his second stint. In 2016, Williams took eight at-bats with the league’s Lancaster Barnstormers after leaving the Miami Marlins organization.

“He’s a great player, I love the kid and I’m going to miss him dearly. I’m really happy for him and really proud of him because he deserves this,” manager Zack Pace said. “He did a great job this year and improved all year. He really got better, he really zoned in and got a lot more walks, worked counts. His approach got a lot better as the year went along.”

STOMPERS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT WITH VICTORY IN SAN RAFAEL

Kevin Farley trots home after hitting back-to-back home runs with Daniel Baptista in the seventh inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 9, 2018 in San Rafael, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Despite winning only one of their first five games at Albert Park this season, the Sonoma Stompers offense burst out early Thursday night and an outstanding start from Vijay Patel paved the way to a 8-6 victory for the Stompers over the San Rafael Pacifics.

For the first time this season, Patel pitched through the end of the seventh inning, allowing just two runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out five.

“Me and Mitch [Ho] got on the same page early and just kind of cruised from there,” Patel said. “Defense, offense. These guys show out every single time I’ve pitched, so it’s a lot of fun to be out there.”

The offense gave him early support in big ways over the first four innings. A double from Ho in the second scored Marcus Bradley, then hits from Miles Williams, Kenny Meimerstorf and Kevin Farley drove home two runs in the third.

With Sonoma already up three runs, Williams doubled his team’s lead in the fourth with a three-run home run, his 20th of the season. That home run set the Sonoma Stompers single-season home run record, breaking the previous mark of 19, which had been set by Joel Carranza in 2014.

“In the past few weeks, I might have seen six or seven fastballs,” Williams said. “I was looking for a hanger and he threw a fastball low and away, just kind of put a good swing on it, put a good finish on it. I’m keeping everything as simple as possible.”

Daniel Baptista and Farley connected for back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh, which proved to be the difference in the game. San Rafael tagged Sonoma’s bullpen for four runs over the final two innings to bring the score within two, but ultimately fell to the Stompers 8-6.

Now with four consecutive wins, the Stompers look for their second sweep of the Pacifics in 2018 Friday night, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

STOMPERS FIND WAY TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS IN EXTRAS AGAIN

Kam Stewart was the walk-off hero, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th in the Sonoma Stompers game against the Napa Silverados, August 8, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers played extra innings for the 10th time in 2018 Wednesday night and for the eighth time this season, emerged victorious, walking off again to top the Napa Silverados 3-2.

The game began as a pitching duel between Napa’s Scott Harkin and Sonoma’s Kenny Mathews. Harkin threw six strong innings with just one earned run allowed, but Mathews was better, throwing seven shutout innings with just four hits, no walks and five strikeouts.

“We established the fastball command early and Mitch [Ho] has got a real good idea about these guys and what I like to throw as well,” Mathews said. “It’s a good recipe for success for us, wee had good command and we’ve got the guys on and off the field, so it’s good stuff, a good day.”

The run support he received was minimal, but enough to keep the Stompers ahead for much of the game.

After Daniel Baptista’s first of two hits in the game, Kevin Farley singled home Kenny Meimerstorf with two outs in the fourth and Meimerstorf blasted his 19th home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the sixth.

While Napa tied the game at two in the ninth, the Stompers rebounded well in the 10th on both sides of the ball. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Ryan Richardson faced two batters and recorded three outs, including a pickoff of a Silverado at second and an inning-ending strikeout for a scoreless frame.

Sonoma loaded the bases with two outs and Kam Stewart drew a walk to end the game, extending his streak of games reaching base to 27.

“I know it’s a big situation, I’m just trying to put something in play, something hard in play,” Stewart said. “But he was a little wild, he’s got some velocity too, so I was just trying to stay in there.”

With the Stompers riding a three-game win streak, they turn their attention to the second-place San Rafael Pacifics, who sit two games back of Sonoma in the Pacific Association standings. First pitch from Albert Park in San Rafael is set for 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday.