The Foresters’ rumbling offense hit a speed bump Friday night, as San Francisco Seals’ pitchers allowed only five hits and the ’Sters lost 9-3, for the team’s third loss of the season.
Santa Barbara got a run in the first on Christian Encarnacion sac fly, following a pair of bunt hits by Pat Caulfield and Peyton Graham. And then that was it until the ninth. The Foresters struck out 12 times and walked none, going down in order an uncharacteristic four times. The ’Sters added a pair of runs in the ninth thanks to a balk and a double by Ryan Holgate.
Meanwhile, the Seals matched the Santa Barbara opening-inning scoring with a second-inning homer by Beto Maldonado. In the third, SB starter Caleb Sloan gave up a run-scoring double and then had to leave with an apparent injury. The Foresters bullpen provided little relief, as San Francisco scored two in the fifth and four more in the sixth. The latter was highlighted–or lowlighted, depending on your point of view–by a three-run homer by Dio Cornet.
Chalk it up to an off-night all around and tune in on Saturday for the second game of this two-game set versus the Seals. First pitch will be at 6 pm on KCSB.org/sports.
