By Jim Buckley. Photo by Nick Masuda: A pinch of this, a pinch of that: Manager/Chef Bill Pintard and the Foresters chose all the right ingredients to cook up a big win in San Luis Obispo, 8-3. After losing the first two games this summer to the archrival Blues, the Foresters feasted on Wednesday night to move into a first-place tie in the CCL South.
The big blow came on a pinch-hit double in the sixth by Ryan Wrobleski (pictured), who cleared the bases with a ball that bounced in front of the outfield wall. All three runners scored to break open a close game. Wrobleski himself soon scampered home from second on a very wild pitch to make it 6-0.
He was not the first pinch-hitter that had come through for the ’Sters. In the fifth, Pintard had gone to the recipe book to send up Tanner O’Tremba from the bench and the righthander slugger responded with a single that drove in Ethan Bates with Santa Barbara’s first run. Josh Stinson followed with a single to left, and when the ball eluded the Blues outfielder, O’Tremba scored.
Up 6-0, the Foresters had dessert in the ninth, scoring a pair of runs on passed balls, with O’Tremba (single) and Andrew Kachel (walk) doing the honors.
Serving up nothing but goose eggs to the Blues was the Santa Barbara starting pitcher Josh Swales, who was nearly perfect in his six innings. The Southern Nevada hurler allowed only two hits while striking out five and walking none. Pintard placed an order for relief pitching in the seventh, and Steven Zobac and Chase Webster earned three stars, shutting out the Blue over two innings. Gabe Starks provided the only Maalox moments for the evening’s repast, as an error, a pair of walks, a wild pitch, and a balk let the Blues score thrice.
For defensive spice in this winning meal, Pintard served up centerfielder Josh Stinson. In the fourth, the Georgia outfielder dove headlong to make a catch, and then ran smack into the wall in the sixth after snagging a long drive. Give Dylan Leach an amuse-bouche for throwing out a potential basestealer in the eighth to blunt a short rally.
The Foresters jumped back on the ’Ster bus pleased and full after a winning meal. They’ll step up the the dinner, er . . . home plate again on Thursday on the road at Arroyo Seco. Tune in to AM 1290 KZSB at 6 pm . . . mealtime.
