By Gabe Schapiro
Vallejo, CA – The Vallejo Admirals (11-25) were outdueled by the Sonoma Stompers (25-11), losing 3-1, Wednesday night, at Wilson Park.
In a game that produced one of the more bizarre box scores of the season, the Admirals lost despite having more hits and fewer errors. Vallejo only surrendered three hits on the night, but unfortunately for the Admirals, all three went over the fence. Starter Tony Guerra made his 2015 debut for Vallejo, and would be the tough-luck loser. Meanwhile, the Stompers trio of Paul Hvozdovic, Santos Saldivar, and Erik Gonsalves kept Vallejo’s bats quiet all night.
Through three innings of play, the game remained scoreless, as both teams combined for just four base runners up until that point.
In the fourth, however, Sonoma broke through with a bang.
With one down in the inning, TJ Gavlik stepped to the plate, and worked a full count. On the eighth pitch of the at bat, he finally got one he could handle, sending it over the right field wall for a solo homer. It was the Stompers first hit and run of the evening. Two batters and three pitches later, Daniel Baptista followed suite, sending a no-doubter to dead center field, to make it 2-0 Sonoma.
Guerra tossed a hitless fifth and sixth to end his night, before handing the ball off to the bullpen.
The first man up was Josh Evans, who was rudely greeted by Mark Hurley, the first batter he faced. Like teammates Gavlik and Baptista, Hurley got a hold of one, sending it over the left field wall for their third solo shot of the night.
That would be the Stompers final hit and run, but that’s all that their pitching staff would need.
Hvozdovic threw six scoreless innings, giving way to Saldivar in the seventh. In his 2015 debut, Saldivar carved up the Admirals lineup, throwing two perfect innings, while striking out five of the six hitters he would face.
After normal closer Sean Conroy had worked the previous night, Sonoma handed the ball to Gonsalves to close it out.
After a quick two outs, veteran PJ Phillips represented the Admirals last hope. He wouldn’t disappoint, scalding a ball to dead center field that just missed being a home run, instead pounding off of the wall for a double. Lydell Moseby then hit a high chopper up the middle that he would beat out for an infield single. On the play, shortstop Yuki Yusada threw the ball wide of first base on a tough play, which allowed Phillips to score.
That reduced their deficit to 3-1, but that’s as close as they would get. Gonsalves then induced a pop out from Josh Wong to end it.
The Admirals will be back at it tomorrow for the final game of the first half, as they send ace David Dinelli to the mound for the third game of this series against the Stompers. The action gets underway at 7:00 PM.
In addition, the Admirals will also be hosting the Thirsty Thursday Art Walk! Many local artists will have their creations on display for viewing and for purchase, and all beer at the game will be $1 off.
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