Foresters starting pitcher Zach Esquivel allowed no runs in six innings, and the Foresters’ bats torched the Crawdads’ pitching for ten runs on eleven hits to propel Santa Barbara to a 10-2 win Saturday night.
Esquivel started very well in his first start with the Foresters this summer, retiring the first six batters he faced. In his six innings of work, he gave up only four hits, and only one of them was for extra bases.
On offense, the Foresters were the picture of efficiency, banging out ten runs on eleven hits. With two doubles, a triple, and a home run to go with their seven singles, the club provided all the run support the Foresters’ staff wouldn’t have needed.
The Foresters scored all ten of their runs in the first four innings. Continuing a season-long trend of scoring early, they got two runs on a Dylan Paul triple in the first. The next batter, Bret Boswell, hit a moon shot to right that went nearly as high as it went far, tacking on another two runs for the Foresters.
The big name of the day for the ’Sters however, was designated hitter Keston Hiura, who went 4 for 4 with a walk. Hiura, who will be trying out for Team USA in the coming week, said after the game, “After a two-week break, I’m starting to get my timing back, and it’s good to get some ABs.” It certainly seemed his timing returned quickly and in style!
With another great outing by a Foresters starter, pitching coach Tony Cougole was pleased, saying, “We’re attacking the strike zone more, and while there may be more hits, we’re not giving them free bases, which has hurt us in the past.”
As they gather steam once again, Santa Barbara looks for the sweep of Walnut Creek on Sunday at 1:30 pm.—Matthew Selman
