By Blythe Hastings; Photo by Will Huebner
A late fireworks show—a ninth-inning, three-run, first-pitch, pinch-hit homer by Miguel Santos—wasn’t enough as the Foresters fell short on the Fourth of July with a 5-4 loss to the Ventura Pirates at Pershing. Even with a base runner on the bags in eight different innings, the ’Sters couldn’t offensively rally past the Pirates.
The Pirates generated runs in the first and third innings by both Camacho brothers—Ryan and Jovan—with Jovan scoring in the first and Ryan carrying home the Pirates’ second run in the third. Pitcher Deandrey Carter held the Foresters to one run through six innings.
The Foresters got that run in the fourth when Kyle Casper batted in Tanner O’Tremba for one run. The play could have tied the score, but Will Pendergrass was tagged out at the plate.
Ventura pulled away in the sixth, scoring first on a bases loaded walk. A line drive into center field brought home another runner. Foresters catcher Vincent Gamberdella showed up at home, blocking the following runner, tagging him out, and keeping the score at 4-1. Ventura added an insurance run in the ninth that would prove decisive.
Santa Barbara got two men on with two outs, and Santos was sent up bat. He smacked the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence, igniting a big Foresters crowd. Kevin Bazzell, also pinch hitting, walked and brought O’Tremba (pictured) came to the plate. With the crowed expecting fireworks, O’Tremba nearly came through, blasting a ball to deep right field, but the ball fell 10 feet short of walking off the game, and the Sters fire fizzled out.
The Foresters look to redeem themselves against the SLO Blues, playing on the road at 6 PM. Tune in to AM 1290 KZSB to hear the action.
