Using just about every tool in the offensive tool kit, the Foresters won their third straight game, defeating the Ventura Halos, 8-3. Santa Barbara stole six bases (three by Colby Barrick alone), had three sac flies, knocked in runs with singles, doubles, and a triple, and also played error-less defense. About the only thing missing on the night was a home run.
Foresters starter Kyle Johnston (2-0) walked the first two batters he faced, who came around to score the game’s first runs. But then Johnston cruised through the next four innings before giving up another in the sixth. Max Gibbs and Nick Kennedy combined for three innings of scoreless relief.
The Foresters bats woke up with a fury in the sixth, scoring four runs. After Kyle Isbel walked, Trevor Abrams continued his hot hitting with a single on a two-strike pitch. Abrams wanted time, but didn’t get it—so he just knocked the ball into left field. In his first game this season, returning Forester Dylan Paul knocked in both runners with a triple. Connor McManigal knocked in his Paul with a sac fly. With two outs, catcher Steven Coe reached on an infield single and Wesley Ghan-Gibson drove him in with a long double to right field.
In the seventh, the Foresters used some speed to create more runs. Colby Barrick reached on his third hit of the game and then he and Isbel pulled off a double steal. Barrick came in on an Abrams groundout, while Paul drove in Isbel with yet another sac fly. As Santa Barbara got deep into the Halos bullpen, they added two more in the ninth, courtesy of a bases-loaded, two-run single by McManigal.
The Foresters go for a series sweep on Thursday back at UCSB in a game starting at 5 pm. —Jim Buckley
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