Sonoma County Rallies to Beat Mission Viejo

Sonoma County scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Vigilantes, 5-4, in a Western Baseball League game Saturday in Rohnert Park.

The Crushers (23-14) opened the eighth with a single by John Casey and a walk to Tim Wallace. Mission Viejo starter Mike Smith was then lifted in favor of John Homan, who got Todd Pridy to ground out but then up a two-run single to Dave Mowry.

Kurt Kishida then came on to face catcher Jon Fuller, who slammed his 10th homer of the season to give the Crushers a 5-4 lead.

It was another setback for the Vigilantes’ relief corps, which gave up leads of 8-0 and 7-0 earlier this month to Grays Harbor.

The Vigilantes (17-20), now six games behind first-place Sonoma County with seven games to play, broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh, including two on a single by Bret Barberie.

Barberie also tripled and scored on Mike Cowell’s single in the sixth.

Sonoma County’s John Patton (8-5) threw eight innings and allowed seven hits before giving way to Eric Miller in the ninth, who earned his league-best 21st save.