All Around Effort Leads Foresters Past Legends; Ends Two-Game Skid

The Santa Barbara Foresters were on top of things on both sides of the ball, beating the Menlo Park Legends 8-6. The 'Sters' 13 stolen bases and 13 strikeouts took control of the Legends from the get-go, improving their record to 16-3, and ending their two-game losing streak.

The two teams traded punches in the first. After giving up the first run for the third consecutive game on two walks and two singles, the 'Sters struck back. Marcus Greis led off by dropping a double into right field, making his way to third before Addison Klepsch scored him on a sacrifice fly.

It didn't take long for Santa Barbara to snag their first lead of the game. In the second, Nick Salmon singled, followed by Zane Becker reaching on a fielder's choice. Both proceeded to swipe a bag, and Salmon came around on an error on the throw. Marcus Greis then perfectly executed a ground ball RBI to the right side when he grounded out to second.

Menlo Park turned Salmon into a spectator out in left field when Ethan Fillinger blasted one over the fence for a two-run shot to once again tie the game at three in the third.

Chaos on the basepaths put the Foresters back in front. A wild pitch and another error on steals helped Klepsch and Wylan Nelson add two to the runs column, with Salmon grabbing an RBI in the process.

Greis stole two bases en route to scoring on a third throwing error from the Legends. After four, the 'Sters were doubling up Menlo Park 6-3.

Forester starter AJ Krodel settled in his half of the fourth, sitting down the Legends in order, with two strikeouts looking. He ended the day with seven Ks, bringing his season total to 22.

Lucien Wechsburg took over on the bump for the second straight day, relieving Krodel in the fifth. He worked around a leadoff error to get the next three, striking out two on the way. 

Menlo Park got one back in the sixth with Grady Westphal on the mound. A leadoff walk ended up scoring on an error that brought the Legends within two. Santa Barbara wouldn't let that stand, however, as Brady Janusek doubled in Caleb Hoover, who singled earlier in the inning to extend the lead back to three.

Westphal finished the seventh in 1-2-3 fashion, getting strikeouts three and four on the evening and keeping the lead intact.

While the Legends got one more in the top of the eighth against Max McGrady, it wouldn't prove to be enough, as Janusek and Landon Schaefer combined to regain the three-run lead.

Will Jordan was last out of the pen for Santa Barbara. The third error of the game for the Foresters granted the Legends a glimpse of hope, but it wasn't enough, as Jordan picked up his first save of the year.

The six-game homestand comes to a close tomorrow against Menlo Park at 2:00. As always, catch all the action on the Foresters YouTube channel.