Stromsmoe, Squirrels snare EL opener
The Giants shortstop went 4-for-4 with a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning Tuesday to give Double-A Richmond a 10-9 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
"I think as a team, for us to win Game 1 of the championship, it would be the biggest game for us [this year] for sure," Stromsmoe said. "It's big to get that momentum -- now we're only two wins away from winning this thing."
After New Hampshire plated three in the eighth to take a one-run lead, Stromsmoe stepped into the batters' box with one out and a man on first. With only two home runs to his credit this year, the 27-year-old switch-hitter belted the ball over the right-field fence to give the Squirrels the lead for good.
"Jackson Williams got a strike on him and then [Bobby Korecky] was throwing him some sliders," Stromsmoe said. "I thought that if he does get ahead in my at-bat, he's probably going to throw sliders. It was a 1-1 count, and you're not necessarily looking off-speed because a lot of the time you can look but still not hit it right. I think the planets lined up right, and fortunately I got it up and snuck it out."
Richmond's Jackson Williams also went 4-for-4 on the night, while No. 3 Giants prospect Charlie Culberson went 3-for-6 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs. Wendell Fairley and Johnny Monell were the other two Squirrels to enjoy multi-hit games, combining to go 5-for-8.
"Watching their team take batting practice and ours as well, a lot of balls were leaving the yard," Stromsmoe said. "None of mine did, but the ball was flying tonight."
San Francisco's No. 7 prospect Heath Hembree (2-0) gave up a run in the eighth, but pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win.
Stromsmoe said he had not hit a meaningful homer late in a game since he was a teenager playing in the American Legion. Overall, the game ranked as one of the more noteworthy of his five-year pro career.
"This is my ninth pro homer or something," Stromsmoe said. "This is the most meaningful. Others were in the middle of game, I don't really remember. I'm sure this one I'll remember for a little while."
Game 2 will be played Wednesday in New Hampshire, and the rest of the best-of-5 series will take place in Richmond.
David Heck is a contributor to MLB.com.