GIBBONS TIES STRIKEOUT RECORD AS STOMPERS BLANK CLIPPERS

Ethan Gibbons delivers a pitch in the second inning of the Sonoma Stompers’ game against the Martinez Clippers, July 26, 2018 in Martinez, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers rebounded well after being shut out Tuesday with a shutout of their own Wednesday, as Ethan Gibbons delivered his best start of the season to lead the Stompers to a 8-0 win over the Martinez Clippers.

Making his 10th start of the season, Gibbons dominated all night long, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out 12 batters. His strikeout total tied the Stompers record for strikeouts in a game by one pitcher, a mark that had been met five previous times, most recently by 2017 Pacific Association Pitcher of the Year Tyler Garkow on  July 14, 2017.

For the first time this season, Gibbons pitched eight full innings, issuing his only walk of the game in his final inning of work.

“I’m glad we were able to get the shutout and get the win,” Gibbons said. “Today I finally found my changeup, it’s the last pitch that comes when you’re getting back into a season and today I was able to find that and able to throw my fastball a lot of that and it worked well for me.”

It took a couple of innings for the Stompers’ bats to get rolling, but they did in the fourth when Kenny Meimerstorf connected for his 15th home run of the season, a two-run shot that scored Daniel Comstock.

Miles Williams singled home Marcus Bradley in the sixth, then Sonoma added insurance in the ninth inning. The Stompers showed patience and drew five walks to score five runs and stretch their lead to 8-0.

Now 31-17 on the season and winners of 14 of their last 18 games, the Stompers look to stay hot as they take on the Napa Silverados for two games beginning Thursday.

STOMPERS SHUT OUT FOR FIRST TIME IN 2018

Kenny Meimerstorf watches his double land down the right field line in the Sonoma Stompers’ game against the Martinez Clippers, July 24, 2018 in Martinez, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

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MARTINEZ, Calif. – After the Sonoma Stompers best offensive weekend of the season unfolded in Vallejo, with 11-5 and 13-12 wins, the bats fell silent Tuesday against the Martinez Clippers, who shut out the Stompers for the first time this season, 2-0.

Juan Espinosa made his ninth start of the season, possibly his best so far in 2018, but the lack of run support caused him to take his first loss of the year.

Six hits over the first two innings resulted in two Clippers runs, but Espinosa held Martinez silent after the second with five shutout innings over his final five innings. The right-hander did not walk a batter in seven innings and struck out six.

Ryan Richardson’s perfect eighth inning was enough to keep Sonoma in the ballgame, but the Stompers could only manage four hits in the game, none of which translated to runs.

Mitchell Ho and Marcus Bradley singled in the fifth, then Daniel Comstock and Kenny Meimerstorf reached base in the eighth with hits, but that was all the team could muster in nine innings.

Bradley’s single extended his hit streak to five games, the longest active such streak for Stomper hitters. Comstock’s stretch of 13 straight games with a hit earlier this year is still the longest this season, however the catcher has reached base in 42 consecutive games with his single.

The Stompers and Clippers rematch Wednesday as Sonoma looks for a series split, 6:30 is the scheduled first pitch.

STOMPERS COME BACK FROM TEN VALLEJO RUNS, WIN 13-12

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

VALLEJO, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers tied their single-game record for runs scored this season with 13 as they topped the Vallejo Admirals in a come-from-behind 13-12 victory Sunday.

After five Sonoma hitters had multi-hit games Saturday, four recorded more than two Sunday and Marcus Bradley led the way at the top of the lineup with four. Bradley drove in four runs on the afternoon and scored three, while Daniel Comstock drove in five runs on two hits in the winning effort.

“We grinded out a whole nine,” Comstock said. “Collectively, we did a fantastic job today.”

Sonoma’s offense exploded early, with three big hits scoring six runs over the first three innings. Comstock crushed his ninth home run of the season in the first to score Miles Williams, Bradley singled in two in the second and Mitchell Ho singled in two in the third.

Despite Vallejo scoring 10 runs between the third and fifth innings, Sonoma refused to give up, scoring at least once in each of the remaining frames.

Bradley hit his first home run of the season in the sixth to score Rayson Romero and Kam Stewart’s solo home run in the seventh, his eighth homer of the season, brought the Stompers within one run.

“One through nine, we’re solid,” Bradley said of the Stompers’ offense Sunday. “We can put up runs at any point, anybody can hit. We looked at the scoreboard, we knew we had plenty of time to come back.”

Kenny Meimerstorf tied the game in the eighth inning with a double that scored Bradley and gave Sonoma a chance to take the lead, which it did in the ninth.

The Stompers loaded the bases with two outs and Comstock emptied them, doubling to give his team the lead 13-10.

“I was just looking to hit something hard that at-bat, not trying to do too much,” Comstock said. “[Admirals pitcher Brett Schneider] gave me a pitch over the plate I could handle and I hit it hard.”

Cole Watts pitched perfect seventh and eighth innings to set up the door for the Stompers to storm back and put Jacob Cox in a position to earn his 16th save of the season.

Vallejo tagged Cox for two runs in the ninth, but the right-hander held on to pick up his 16th save, furthering his lead in the league. He now has 10 more than the next closest closer in the Pacific Association and stands two saves away from tying the league’s single-season record of 18, set by Vallejo's Sammy Gervacio last season.

After an off day Monday, Sonoma travels to Martinez for games against the Clippers Tuesday and Wednesday, then Napa to face the Silverados Thursday and Friday.

OFFENSE EXPLODES IN VALLEJO BEHIND STRONG MATHEWS START

(James W. Toy III/Sonoma Stompers)

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VALLEJO, Calif. – Making his first start for the Sonoma Stompers, Kenny Mathews continued a trend of strong starting pitching for Sonoma, picking up his second win of the year as the Stompers topped the Vallejo Admirals 11-5.

Mathews pitched six strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits and one walk. The left-hander struck out eight and retired the final 10 Admirals hitters he faced.

“Mitch [Ho] caught a great game,” Mathews said. “When you and the catcher are on the same page, it makes it a lot easier to maneuver a lineup. We were getting ahead, we had real good fastball command today and worked the inner part of the zone real well. And we were putting away hitters when we had the chance to, so it was a good effort by everyone.

It took a few innings for the Stomper offense to pick up, but Kevin Farley started the scoring with an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Once the game entered the fifth, Sonoma took over and didn’t look back, with four hits plating three runs for a lead. Daniel Comstock brought home one run on a double and Kenny Meimerstorf plated two on a single.

Saturday’s contest unraveled in the seventh innings with the two teams scoring 11 runs combined over the seventh and eighth.

Miles Williams, Comstock and Meimerstorf connected for back-to-back-to-back home runs in inning seven, forcing Vallejo’s starter out of the game. Farley added another round-tripper a few batters later, his fourth of the season and the team’s fourth of the inning and game, tying a single-game record for team home runs in 2018.

Three more hits gave the Stompers three additional runs in the eighth inning and 15 hits in the game, tying their single-game record for hits this season.

Seven Sonoma hitters had a hit in Vallejo, with five collecting two. Williams became the first Stomper to record more than three in one game, as he had four.

“I’m keeping it as simple as possible,” Williams said. “It’s contagious when your teammates are doing well and I’m just seeing a lot of pitches.”

Comstock had three hits and Meimerstorf, Kam Stewart and Farley each connected for two.

The two teams will see each other again at Wilson Park Sunday afternoon, with a 1:05 p.m first pitch.

SHARP DOMINATES ONCE MORE AS STEWART AIDS IN WIN

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

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SONOMA, Calif. – After a debut to remember for Tyler Sharp last weekend against the Clippers, the right-hander pitched another outstanding game for the  Sonoma Stompers Friday night as the Stompers split their series with the Pittsburg Diamonds.

Sharp delivered another eight-inning start, striking out five with no walks allowed. He also allowed just one run on four hits, all of which game in the first three innings.

Sharp retired the final 16 batters he faced and 21 of his last 23, throwing five consecutive 1-2-3 innings to end the outing.

“Slowly, but surely everything started working for me,” Sharp said. “Once my command was on, it was over from there. Definitely a good outing.”

He received both defensive and offensive support from Kam Stewart, who connected for a two-home home run and fielded 10 ground balls for outs over the eight innings Sharp pitched.

After the Stompers scored two in the third inning on a Rob DeAngelis double to take a 2-1 lead over Pittsburg, Stewart launched his seventh round-tripper of the season to left field with two outs, scoring Daniel Comstock and giving Sonoma a 4-1 lead.

His homer came after making all three defensive outs in the top half of the inning, including a play for the second out that was reminiscent of the jump throw Derek Jeter was well-known for as a Yankee.

Stewart also recorded the first two outs of the seventh inning, making it five consecutive grounders and outs.

“With Tyler getting me all those ground balls, all I can do is have his back and get the job done for him,” Stewart said. “

Jacob Cox took over in the ninth inning and shut the door, locking down his 15th save of the year with a 1-2-3 inning. He now sits just three saves away from tying Sammy Gervacio’s single-season Pacific Association record of 18 saves, which he set last season with the Vallejo Admirals.

The Stompers embark on a six-game road trip beginning Saturday with two games in Vallejo before an off day Monday and trips to Martinez and Napa.

STOMPERS PITCHER TOPOOZIAN PROMOTED TO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers are excited to announce that right-handed pitcher Dominic Topoozian has been promoted to the American Association’s Sioux City Explorers and will join his new team immediately.

Topoozian advances to a higher level of independent baseball after making his ninth start of the season Sunday and earning his sixth win in 2018.

“We're extremely proud of Dominic, and we can't wait to see him in action for the Explorers in the American Association,” general manager Brett Creamer said. “His development and  progression since last season has been phenomenal. Sioux City is not only getting a robust pitcher, but they are getting quality person as well.”

Topoozian pitched 56 innings for the Stompers in 2018 with a perfect 6-0 record and league-leading 2.89 ERA.

“I’m going to miss my time here,” Topoozian said. “Our team, they fight every single day. We’ve got some great players on this squad and I’m excited to see what they accomplish.”

The Fresno native walked just 10 batters this season, compared to the 54 he struck out, the second-best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the Pacific Association through the league’s first 43 games.

WIN STREAK ENDS WITH 15-HIT LOSS TO PITTSBURG

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

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SONOMA, Calif. – Winners of 10 of their last 12, the Sonoma Stompers bats burst out once again, but their 15 hits only resulted in six runs and they fell to the Pittsburg Diamonds 9-6, snapping the team’s five-game losing streak.

Pittsburg led from the first inning and didn’t give up the lead all night long, adding on four runs of insurance in the ninth that proved to be critical to the Diamonds’ win.

Ethan Gibbons delivered six-inning start, striking out five and allowing just two earned runs. However, the righty walked four and allowed nine hits while taking his first loss as a Stomper.

The bullpen struggled to keep the game close, with four pitchers combining to allow six runs and six walks.

Sonoma scratched across a run in the sixth when Miles Williams led off the inning with a solo shot and added two in the seventh with a two-run homer from Mitchell Ho.

Pittsburg countered with a run after each of those half innings and held a 5-3 lead headed to the ninth.

After the Diamonds’ four-run ninth, Sonoma scratched across four hits, all singles, to bring in three runs and pull the game within two. Despite bringing the tying run on deck, the Stompers could not pull out the victory, falling for the 16th time this season.

The Stompers’ 15 hits tied their single-game team record in 2018, with Williams, Marcus Bradley, Daniel Baptista and Kevin Farley each recording a two-hit performance.

Pittsburg and Sonoma rematch Friday evening as the Stompers wrap up a four-game homestand. Tyler Sharp will make his second start for the Stompers as he tries to follow up his 8.2 inning outing last weekend.

ESPINOSA PICKS UP FIRST WIN BEHIND WILLIAMS’ BIRTHDAY HOMER

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – The red-hot Sonoma Stompers once again didn’t let deficits put them down, as they came back from twice to top the Vallejo Admirals 7-5 and help Juan Espinosa pick up his first win of the season.

Making his eighth start of 2018, Espinosa pitched six strong innings, allowing three earned runs on one walk and six strikeouts.

He pitched with a lead almost immediately after Marcus Bradley scored on a wild pitch in the first inning.

Despite Vallejo taking the lead in the top of the fifth, Sonoma countered quickly in the bottom of the frame with two runs to even the score at three. Celebrating his 26th birthday, Miles Williams crushed his team-leading 14th home run of the season to right field, scoring Rayson Romero, who turned 23 Wednesday.

“I’m seeing good pitches, trying to touch the baseball,” Williams said. “It’s contagious when your teammates are constantly taking great AB’s, it helps you with your hitting plan too."

Romero did not record an official at-bat in the game, instead drawing three walks and bringing in a run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

“Early on in the game, I was up with nobody on, so I was trying to get my pitch that I could drive,” Romero said. “If it was out of the zone, I was trying to get on base. Later in the game, Kevin [Farley] hit that double, runners on second and third and the first pitch, I could get the job done with it.”

After the birthday boys brought the score back even, the Admirals took another lead in the sixth, a lead the Stompers just as quickly countered, with Kam Stewart driving in Daniel Comstock, then scoring on a wild pitch to put the Stompers ahead again in the bottom half.

Two more insurance runs in the eighth proved helpful as Vallejo scored a run in the ninth that otherwise would have tied the game. Instead, Jacob Cox locked down his 14th save of thee season and the Stompers held on to win 7-5.

With two consecutive sweeps under their belt, Sonoma looks to make it three in a row and increase its five-game win streak with the Pittsburg Diamonds coming to Sonoma Thursday and Friday.

THREE HOME RUNS BACK 10 PATEL K’S AS STOMPERS WIN FOUR IN A ROW

Kevin Farley (13) celebrates with Kenny Meimerstorf (12) after hitting his third home run of the season, a three-run home run in the fourth inning in the Sonoma Stompers game against the Vallejo Admirals, Tuesday, July 17, 2018.  (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers rolled right through their off day Monday into Tuesday night against the Vallejo Admirals, crushing three home runs to top the defending league champions 9-7.

With former Oakland Athletics outfielder Eric Byrnes in attendance, Sonoma center fielder Marcus Bradley made a catch reminiscent of many of those Byrnes made with the A’s, going into a leaping dive in left-center field to record an out in the second inning.

The highlight-reel play was an omen of good things to come for the Stompers in all facets of the game.

Neither team recorded a hit in the first three innings, with Sonoma’s Vijay Patel recording five strikeouts and retiring his first 10 batters working into the fourth.

Patel encountered struggles after loading the bases and giving up a grand slam that gave Vallejo a lead, but settled down to retire his next seven batters and eight of following nine.

“I had control of my fastball on both sides of the plate, that was really helpful,” Patel said. “I also had my slider working, so that was helpful to have a little bit of lateral movement. And great defense behind me, great bats behind me too.”

The right-hander pitched into the seventh, striking out 10 Admirals with just three hits allowed over 6.2 innings. Seven of those strikeouts came on the first batter of each of his first seven innings.

“I was really focusing on getting ahead,” he said. “These guys can swing it, so it brings a level of intensity, a level of play. You have to bring your best otherwise these guys are going to bang out.”

Picking up his fifth win of the season, Patel was aided by an offense that helped him recover well from the fourth inning grand slam. The Stompers scored eight runs between the fourth and fifth innings on three home runs and a double.

Miles Williams connected for his 13th long ball of the season in the fourth, a solo shot that led off the frame. Rob DeAngelis and Daniel Comstock doubled back-to-back to bring in another run, then after Kenny Meimerstorf walked, Kevin Farley hit his third home run of the season, giving Sonoma 5-4 advantage.

Kam Stewart launched his sixth homer of the season to left field in the fifth inning, a three run shot that furthered Sonoma’s lead and put the game firmly out of reach for Vallejo.

Kenny Matthews and Jacob Cox combined for 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen as Sonoma held on in the ninth to win 9-7 and Cox picked up his 13th save of the year, more than double the number of the next closest pitcher in the Pacific Association.

The Stompers look for a series sweep and their fifth straight win Wednesday against the Admirals, first pitch at 6:05 p.m.

OFFENSE SUPPORTS TOPOOZIAN FOR SWEEP OF CLIPPERS

Rob DeAngelis swings during the Sonoma Stompers game July 15, 2018 in Martinez, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

MARTINEZ, Calif. – After a lights-out performance from Tyler Sharp Saturday night, the Sonoma Stompers continued to roll Sunday afternoon, topping the Martinez Clippers 6-5 for a series sweep and the team’s third straight victory.

Winners of eight of their last ten, the Stompers tasked Dominic Topoozian with his ninth start of 2018 and like he has all season, Topoozian produced an impressive outing.

The Fresno, California native pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

“It’s what I’ve been doing all year, getting ahead and throwing with conviction every pitch,” he said. “You still have to compete though. [The Martinez Clippers] have gotten better since I pitched against them Opening Day. They were tough to strike out today, putting the bat on the ball.”

He left runners on base in each of the first four innings, then produced back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to keep his team ahead all afternoon.

Eddie Mora-Loera and Rob DeAngelis were responsible for all six of Sonoma’s runs with Mora-Loera being one of three Stompers with two-hits in the game. Marcus Bradley and Daniel Comstock each had a pair of singles in the game as well.

For Comstock, it was his 20th multi-hit game of the season.

Mora-Loera drove in runs in the second and fourth with doubles and DeAngelis brought home teammates in the fifth and seventh innings. Both Rayson Romero and Bradley scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth and DeAngelis’ two-out RBI single in the seventh proved to be the difference in the 6-5 game.

Martinez scored four runs in the final two innings to bring the game within one, but Jacob Cox locked down his 12th save of the season in the ninth to hold on for the win.

With the season exactly halfway over, the Stompers will enjoy an off day Monday before a four-game homestand begins Tuesday with the Vallejo Admirals coming to town for two games, followed by the Pittsburg Diamonds. All four games will begin at 6:05 p.m.

Former Oakland Athletic Eric Byrnes will be on hand Tuesday to promote his "Let Them Play Foundation" before he begins a cross-country triathlon.