Tuesday will be a day to forget for the Santa Barbara Foresters – with the exception of maybe one thing.
After the team’s bus broke down on the way to Orange County and the team’s normally reliable bullpen gave up a 4-0 lead, the Foresters were left with a sour taste in their mouth even beyond a 5-4 loss to the OC Riptide.
Three-summer Forester veteran Ryan Cash was plunked by Riptide pitcher Tyler Booth in the bottom of the second inning – two days removed from Cash being a catalyst to a 4-1 win by the Foresters.
“I can say that it wasn’t a pitch that just got away from the pitcher,” Forester manager Bill Pintard said.
Pintard did point to a level of chirping by the Riptide throughout the game, something that will linger as the California Collegiate League season plays on.
As for Tuesday’s game, Forester starter Isaac Coffey was outstanding over six innings, surrendering just three hits and striking out nine.
“Coffey was unbelievable for us tonight,” Pintard said.
Unfortunately, the Riptide got to reliever Drake Greenwood in the seventh, touching him for four runs in just one-third of an inning. It was the first three earned runs that Greenwood had given up all summer.
Brock Helverson surrendered the go-ahead run in the eighth to take the loss.
Ross Cadena led the Forester offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Spencer Jones added two hits. Leadoff hitter Eric Kennedy had a hit and two runs scored, one coming after his 15th stolen base of the summer.
“Not one guy complained about the broken down bus, nor did anyone get down about getting behind tonight,” Pintard said. “We continued to battle until the end. This won’t be the last time we see them this summer.”
The Foresters will stay on the road with a 2 p.m. game today against the Academy Barons, before returning home on Thursday for a 6 p.m. game against the San Luis Obispo Blues. Catch all the action on AM1290 or via newspress.com.
