By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Right-handed pitcher Alec Murray throws a pitch Sunday at Arnold Field in Sonoma, Calif. The relief-pitcher threw four scoreless innings and collected three strikeouts despite the Stompers falling 8-7 to the Alameda Merchants. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma Stompers erased much of an early five-run deficit but couldn't complete the comeback Sunday, falling 8-7 to the Alameda Merchants at Arnold Field. Sonoma trailed 7-2 after two innings before rallying within one run but 14 strikeouts and missed opportunities with runners on base proved costly.
The Stompers fell to 7-2 on the season and 3-2 in California Collegiate League play.
The Merchants opened the scoring by driving in four runs in the top of the first inning.
After a leadoff double by Alameda infielder Nico Rodriguez, catcher Angel Garcia tried to back-pick him at second base, but an errant throw allowed Rodriguez to advance to third base. After a leadoff double by Alameda infielder Nico Rodriguez, catcher Angel Garcia tried to back-pick him at second base, but an errant throw allowed Rodriguez to advance to third base.
Three RBI singles and a wild pitch accounted for the four-run inning
The Stompers cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning. Sonoma drew three walks and a hit-by-pitch to make it 4-2.
But the Merchants responded again. Outfielder Trey Johnson hit a three-run home run to right-field to make it 7-2.
Before the home run, Stompers manager Zack Pace had right-handed pitcher Evan Sandoval warming up in the bullpen. Yet, he opted to let starting pitcher right-hander Vince van Holy to stay in and face Johnson.
“We were really trying to stretch him out... I was hoping to get 2-3 [innings] out of him,” Pace said postgame. “I knew we had a lot of game left.”
Van Holy was pulled from the contest after pitching 1.1 innings and allowing six hits and seven earned runs over 12 batters. He threw 43 pitches and 21 strikes. In his first CCL start, the Hooglanderveen, Netherlands native saw his ERA rise to 47.25 through 3.1 innings pitched.
Sonoma matched Alameda by scoring three runs in the bottom of the second.
With the bases loaded and one out, designated hitter Hunter Carlson hit a single into right-field to score one run. Then, an error committed by Merchants infielder Ethan Reader made it 7-4. Infielder Tino Vasell scampered home on a wild pitch with two outs to cut the deficit down to 7-5.
Despite scoring three runs in the bottom of the second, Sonoma left the bases loaded as outfielder Connor Johnston struck out swinging on a 2-2 count.
The Stompers went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position through the first three innings and left five runners on base.
Alameda starting pitcher Jaden Bitter struggled with his command allowing five walks across 11 batters. Bitter threw 45 pitches yet only 13 strikes. The 6-foot-2 right-hander exited the contest after 1.1 innings pitched and five runs surrendered with three being earned.
Each team scored one run in the third inning, but both bullpens settled in after that.
Sandoval and right-handed pitcher Alec Murray stabilized the bullpen for Sonoma during the middle innings.
Sandoval pitched 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run while Murray cruised through four scoreless innings and collected three strikeouts.
Pace said that he could think about Murray being a starting pitcher “down the road,” but nothing is set in stone yet.
“I like him relieving. He’s a big presence out there, he fills it up,” Pace said. “That’s something you need out of the bullpen.”
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Vasell cut the Merchants' lead down to 8-7 with his first home run of the year, a 344-foot solo blast over the right-field fence.
The Stompers drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth. After a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Ryland Heckman, outfielder Nic Sebastiani advanced to third base on a wild pitch.
But Merchants relief-pitcher right-hander Diego De Santiago sealed the victory and picked up the save for Alameda after striking out back-to-back batters.
Pace said that “sometimes you win some and sometimes you lose some.”
“To improve on it [missed opportunities], we’ll just have to keep working at it every day,” Pace said. “It’s not going to translate overnight. But that’s how the game is sometimes. We just didn’t get it done there.”
Ultimately, Alameda out-hit Sonoma 11-6 in the contest. The Stompers bats produced only three hits after the third inning and struck out 14 times in the contest.
Pace said that he “felt good about the approach as a team” but didn’t like the number of strikeouts his team suffered.
“We just got to cut down on the strikeouts, put the ball in play and play with two strikes” Pace said. “We need to take a little bit off our swing and shorten up, especially in those situations with two strikes or where we need to get the runner over.”
The Stompers have two days off before heading to Chabot College in Hayward, Calif. on Wednesday to face the Merchants in the second of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.