By Jalen Kang
Jesse Di Maggio delivered the go-ahead RBI in the eighth, Dominic Smaldino blasted his second homer of the season, and the Foresters came out on top of a back-and-forth bout vs. the San Diego Bombers 8-7 on Tuesday night.
The ❜Sters held a comfortable 7-2 lead going into the top of the eighth, but a Bombers five-spot, including a game-tying grand slam, knotted the score at 7-7 in the blink of an eye.
Now a whole new ballgame in the bottom of the eighth, Kaden Peterson capped off a 2-3 day with his second double of the game to lead off the inning.
With Peterson standing at third as the go-ahead run, Di Maggio came up with the timeliest knock of the ballgame, a two-out single that kicked off the outstretched glove of the Bombers shortstop to give the ❜Sters the lead.
“We were just following what Coach always says, ‘see the ball, hit the ball.’ Rallying back today was big for us,” said Peterson.
Jackson Cloud entered the game out of the bullpen and pitched a shutout ninth inning. Starter Reid Hensley and reliever Jake Fields combined for 7.0 innings of two-run ball while striking out seven Bombers.
The ❜Sters led 4-2 during the middle innings until Smaldino hit his second homer of the season in the seventh to add three runs to the lead with one swing. Will Rogers and Drew Markle both singled and Smaldino turned on a 3-2 fastball, sending it a long way over the left-center field fence.
Tonight’s gritty win displayed the ever-improving sense of cohesion among this ❜Sters group as the summer rolls along.
“When times get tough I just look back and see all my friends in the dugout, and that really helps me,” said Peterson.
The ❜Sters look to make it two in a row on the road against the Arroyo Seco Saints tomorrow. Listen along on your device from anywhere by visiting our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@SantaBarbaraForesters19.
