By Emma del Sol
Dillon Dobson was just a triple shy of the cycle in his four hit performance today. Dobson had a double, a mammoth homerun, and two singles in the ‘Sters 7-1 victory over the San Francisco Seals. Starting pitcher Kenny Chapman went five innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out four. The ‘Sters have won the last four games and have won 15 of their last 17.
The San Francisco Seals struck first scoring one run on two hits in the first inning. However, the ‘Sters came back in the bottom of the second inning, scoring one run off of a single by AJ Balta, who then scored on a wild pitch.
The Foresters took the lead in the bottom of the third inning as they scored two runs off of a single, a double, and a wild pitch. Dobson started the inning off with a broken bat single to center and then stole second on the next at bat. He was brought home on a double down the third baseline by Dave Graybill, giving the ‘Sters the lead. Graybill came home on a wild pitch, adding an extra insurance run for the ‘Sters.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dobson hit a towering homerun to right field. Dobson now leads the team in homeruns with four and in 26 RBI. Granger Studdard extended his nine game hitting streak, this time for a single. Cody Walker had his second single of the game, this time a single under the shortstops glove, driving in Studdard.
Blake Goins, Dalton Brown, and Troy Cruz came in to relieve Chapman and pitched four innings of shutout baseball. Goins, Brown, and Cruz have also not given up a run in any of their relief innings. Cruz extended his scoreless streak to seven and a third innings and added on two more strikeouts, bringing his season total to 14.
The ‘Sters were not done yet as they added on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Bret Boswell led the inning off with a walk and came home on a throwing error by the catcher, who was trying to throw out Jake Vickerson who had reached on a single. Vickerson then came home on a ground out by Colt Atwood.
All nine batters for the ‘Sters reached base safely today, whether by walk or hit. The ‘Sters also had eight stolen bases in the game, two coming from Atwood, who leads the team with fifteen stolen bases on the season.
The final game of this two game series against the Seals is set for tomorrow at 5 pm. We hope to see all of you there!
