By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer
Behind Jaxen Rowland’s six-inning gem and Landon Akers’ two-run home run, the Stompers cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Philippines Baseball Group on Thursday.
One-sided affairs have been rare for Sonoma this summer. The Stompers won 11-3 over the Legends, demolished the Seagulls 14-0 and 14-3 to claim their first CCL series win and opened league play with a 7-1 victory over the Blues. Aside from those games, though, Sonoma entered Thursday with five wins of just two runs or less.
That wasn’t the case against the Philippines Baseball Group; the Stompers (12-8, 9-6 CCL) dictated the pace from start to finish, defeating PBG 8-1. Its performance left the Philippines reeling, and, though not as notable as its other matchups, dominance like that displayed Thursday is exactly what Sonoma needed.
“I liked our approach to the game. We started a little sluggish, but the guys came out and did a good job,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame.
Whether it was Sonoma’s 9-to-1 edge in walks, its 8-to-5 advantage in hits or its 40-pitch gap in workload, the Stompers paced the Philippines with efficiency in every category. And it started on the mound.
One day after Devon Laguinto’s masterful performance — the first time a Stompers pitcher went six-plus innings this season — Jaxen Rowland matched him. The Modesto JC freshman lowered his ERA to 0.90 with a six-inning scoreless outing.
He put away PBG in order in four of his six innings pitched and displayed confidence in his defense, recording just three strikeouts while relying heavily on those behind him. His one walk also marked Sonoma’s second straight game giving up only one free pass, an impactful adjustment from its constant control issues in previous series.
“(Rowland) did an outstanding job. He filled up the zone. His breaking ball was working good, and he kept (the Philippines) in defensive mode the whole time,” Pace said.
“No free passes. When we do that, we have a really good chance to win every night,” he added.
Micah Marquez replaced Rowland in the seventh, but the dealing from the bump continued. He struck out one of the four batters he faced, nearly pitching a 1-2-3 inning before Stefan Leo reached on an error by third baseman Anthony Scheppler.
After Marquez, Chris Albee toed the rubber for a scoreless eighth. Albee had allowed at least one hit in each of his three appearances prior to Thursday. But against the Philippines, he was nails. The Jessup University senior forced two quick flyouts and a popout to escape the eighth unscathed.
In the ninth, Nicholas Poulus surrendered his first earned run of the season. He gave up two hits, yet the damage was nothing compared to Sonoma’s thrashing on the offensive end.
Like Pace mentioned, the Stompers’ hitters were stagnant early. Whether it was their late return home from San Luis Obispo, the limited practice before first pitch or little-to-no batting practice, it was a distant thought by the third inning.
Momentum swung in the Stompers’ favor after a Max Handron single drove in Trent Keys. Sonoma recorded four base runners in the frame and punished PBG starter Andres Perez, who’s now allowed six-plus hits and two-plus runs in each of his three starts.
In the fifth, Landon Akers added to the party. He’s been a key contributor in the Stompers’ lineup but has yet to showcase the power and plate presence that earned him All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors. After his first home run of the summer came on June 7, he added a second on Thursday.
Following Heeryun Han’s leadoff single, Akers took two balls before launching a 373-foot, no doubt homer over the left field fence. He finished the game with three hits, three RBIs and reached base four times.
“(The homer) was cool. I knew it was out right off the bat,” Akers said postgame. “(I’m) just trying to stay in my zone. I just saw two inside fastballs and decided to turn on them.”
Sonoma nearly hit around in the seventh — a three-run effort — courtesy of two runs walked in and a sacrifice fly. In the eighth, it produced five base runners to add two more, again on walks.
Thursday’s win became a blueprint for the future. In a season so far defined by tight margins, the Stompers proved they can produce with discipline, depth and power.
Sonoma will look for its third straight win on Friday in an interleague contest with the Arroyo Seco Saints, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. at Arnold Field.