By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Relief pitcher right-hander Luke Zmolik high-fives his teammates he walks off the mound at the end of the sixth inning. Zmolik pitched one scoreless inning with two strikeouts despite the Stompers losing 3-2 in extra innings to the Blues at Sinsheimer Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
The Sonoma Stompers lost their third straight game Wednesday, falling 3-2 in 11 innings to the San Luis Obispo Blues at Sinsheimer Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Sonoma’s losing streak extended to four games. It finished its three-game road trip with three losses.
The Stompers fell to 5-7 in California Collegiate League play while the Blues improved to 12-2.
Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame the last four games have been “on him.”
“We’re in a little rut right now,” Pace said. “Not putting it together at the same time. That’s the game; that’s life sometimes.”
Sonoma’s starting pitcher left-hander Taber Fast pitched three scoreless innings. He didn’t allow a hit and walked two runners on 46 pitches.
The Stompers got on the board first in the fifth inning to make it 1-0. Tino Vasell (University of San Francisco) hit a double before he stole third base with two outs. The 5-foot-10 infielder then scored on an error committed by infielder Brady Alves (Butte College) in the middle of the diamond.
Blues starting pitcher right-hander Quincy Winkler (Cal Poly) threw six innings and picked up seven strikeouts. The Templeton, Calif. native surrendered three hits and one run, but none earned.
Neither team scored again until the eighth inning, when the Blues tied the game 1-1.
Sonoma right-handed pitcher Devon Laguinto (San Joaquin Delta College) recorded the first two outs of the inning before he walked back-to-back batters. Then, San Luis Obispo infielder CJ Moran (University of San Diego) hit the game-tying single into right field.
Laguinto limited the damage to only a run, as he ended the inning with a groundout. The Rohnert Park, Calif. native now holds a 3.60 ERA in four appearances this year.
Both teams went scoreless during the ninth inning, forcing the contest into extra innings.
Under the extra-inning tiebreaker rule, Sonoma took a 2-1 lead in the 10th inning.
Infielder Misael Uriepero (Youngstown State) drew a four-pitch walk and McCown laid down a sacrifice bunt. On the bunt, San Luis Obispo right-handed pitcher Chance Jasso (Cal State Long Beach) threw the ball away to an unoccupied first base bag. The error allowed Sonoma’s ghost runner, outfielder Nic Sebastiani (Santa Rosa Junior College), to score from second base.
The Stompers had the runners on second and third with no outs and the lead but couldn’t deliver a much-needed insurance run.
Infielders Caze Derammelaere (Santa Rosa Junior College) and Hunter Carlson (Georgia State) both grounded out. Outfielder Trent Keys (San Joaquin Delta College) struck out swinging. In Keys’ plate appearance, he was hit-by-a-pitch in the hand but swung.
Pace said, “there’s not much you can do about that.”
“It’s the way the ball is bouncing for us right now,” Pace said. “Not getting the runners in on second and third was huge. I guarantee you we probably win if we get that in.”
The Blues took advantage in the bottom of the frame to tie the game 2-2.
Infielder Diego Murillo hit an RBI single into left field with one out — it was his first hit in five plate appearances. Yet, right-handed pitcher Mateo Heredia preserved the tie for Sonoma by recording two straight outs to end the inning.
The Stompers struck out three consecutive times and failed to advance the runner at second in the 11th inning.
San Luis Obispo completed the comeback in the bottom of the 11th. Designated hitter Miles Mador (Indiana University) produced the RBI single into the left-center field gap. Outfielder Wesley Bass’ (Georgia State) throw to home plate came up short and was off target.
Ultimately, Sonoma went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. After the Stompers struck out 18 times Tuesday, Sonoma suffered 15 punchouts at the plate Wednesday.
“We’re not getting runners in when we need to get them in,” Pace said. “We’re going to continue to get better. We’ll be alright. It’s better to struggle at this now than at the end of the year.”
Sonoma returns Thursday to Arnold Field in Sonoma looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the San Francisco Seagulls. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.