By Ryan Metcalfe, Sports Writer
Outfielder Trent Keys runs onto the field pregame, high-fiving his teammates as the sun gleams on his cap Thursday. The Stompers rallied to beat the Alameda Merchants 11-8 at Arnold Field. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
The Sonoma Stompers most reliable starting pitcher of the last year, Shawn McBroom, suffered from bad location and gave up six runs in the first two innings Thursday, but his bullpen followed him with five scoreless innings en route to an 11-8 comeback victory over the Alameda Merchants.
“Seeing that happen just fires me up,” said Alec Murray, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief to pick up the victory. “Our pen really picked up our starter when McBroom didn’t have his best stuff. Our hitters really stepped up big time. To erase a six-spot in the first two innings was huge.”
Ken Blankenship followed McBroom with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and helped to turn the momentum of the game.
“I feel like their bullpen put an end to our aggressive run,” Merchants manager Albert Luna said. “They came in and threw strikes and did a great job.”
Gage McCown and Devon Laguinto each allowed one run in one inning of work to close out the victory. Those runs didn’t matter thanks to two runs in the sixth and three in the eighth.
“Our guys put together quality at bat after quality at bat,” said catcher Hunter Carlson, who led off the sixth with a double off the wall in right and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Trent Keys. “When you are down that much no one can do it by themselves. You’ve got to pass the bat to the next guy to keep the rally going. I think our team grinds it out. No matter the score, we play to the end.”
Ryland Hickman posted the big hit in the eighth, hitting a two-strike pitch back up the box to drive in two. Keys, who scored the Stompers’ (4-3 CCL) final run, set up Heckman with a perfect bunt down the third-base line. Heckman also hit an RBI single in the third that cut the Merchants’ (2-3 CCL ) lead to 6-4 in the third. Connor Johnston and Chase Taylor led off the fourth with singles and scored on a single by Tino Vasell and an error.
“We try to have a good approach and have guys take a little off their swing to get them going,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said. “We did a good job of that today.”
The Stompers start a three-game series against the Menlo Park Legends 7 p.m. Friday in Sonoma. Their game Saturday is at home as well before concluding the series Sunday in Menlo Park.