By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Infielder Bryson Ayala and right-handed pitcher Devon Laguinto celebrate after Ayala’s two-run home run Tuesday. Ayala went 1 for 4 with two RBIs while Laguinto pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in the contest.
Bryson Ayala stepped to the plate and delivered the knockout blow.
The 6-foot-5 infielder crushed the second pitch he saw over the left-field wall and just inside the foul pole, sending it into San Luis Obispo's bullpen.
Ayala admired the two-run shot as he headed down the first-base line before tossing his bat toward the Sonoma dugout. When he crossed home plate, the celebration sparked a heated exchange with Blues catcher Miles Mador.
Ayala’s homer capped a six-run seventh inning that propelled the Stompers to a 7-2 victory over the Blues Tuesday at Arnold Field in Sonoma, Calif. The win opened California Collegiate League play for Sonoma and improved the Stompers to 4-0 on the season.
Stompers manager Zack Pace said the offensive outburst snowballed once the Stompers got runners on base in the seventh inning.
“It was contagious,” Pace said. “This game’s contagious, whether it’s good or bad, whichever way it goes; I’m just glad we got contagious on the good side.”
Sonoma starting pitcher right-hander Shawn McBroom went five innings and allowed one earned run while striking out two. He kept the Blues’ bats quiet while Sonoma’s offense only tallied one hit until that point.
Pace said that McBroome’s command wasn’t “good” during the first inning but that it got “better and better” as the contest progressed, which led to quick outs.
“I really didn’t want him to go that long,” Pace said. “But he had 38 pitches through four innings and it’s tough to take him out at that moment. We let him run out there for the fifth. It was a great job out of him, setting the tempo for our pitching staff today.”
Sonoma was able to score its first run of the game in the opening frame, aided by an error from Blues shortstop Diego Murillo that put outfielder Trent Keys on base. Three batters later, infielder Hunter Carlson brought Keys in with an RBI single into right-field.
While McBroom shut down the Blues, right-handed pitcher Quincy Winkler kept Sonoma’s bats in check for San Luis Obispo.
Winkler pitched five innings Tuesday, only allowing one hit and collecting six strikeouts. The 6-foot-8, Templeton, Calif. Native recorded 13 straight outs from the second inning until the fifth inning where he allowed a walk.
San Luis Obispo tied the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by infielder Isiah Munoz into right-field. After that, both teams went scoreless until the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Blues had runners on first and second with two outs. Pace opted to go to the bullpen and bring in right-handed pitcher Devon Laguinto to replace right-handed pitcher Vince van Holy who had pitched 1.2 innings.
Laguinto got out of the jam with a strikeout, pumping his fist and taking off his hat in celebration as he exited the mound.
Laguinto said that his job was to “throw strikes and be aggressive.” The Rohnert Park, Calif. Native excelled at that, going 1.2 innings and holding the Blues scoreless. But during the bottom of seventh inning, he had to sit on the bench for 32 minutes as his team rallied for six runs all with two outs.
Yet, it didn’t bother him. He went back out for the eighth inning and retired the Blues in order.
“Honestly, I was just trying to stay locked in,” Laguinto said. “I didn’t really go back to the bullpen or throw anymore... I kind of just stayed in the dugout and bonded with my team.”
Despite allowing a run in the ninth inning, the Stompers cruised to the 7-2 victory Tuesday.
Sonoma will look to sweep the two-game series Wednesday at 6:05 p.m.