The Santa Barbara Foresters came out on top 2-0 in a 10-inning pitcher’s duel against the San Luis Obispo Blues on Monday at Sinsheimer Park.
The two teams are heading in opposite directions, with the Foresters winning back-to-back games while the Blues have lost two straight.
After neither team cracked the scoreboard in the first nine innings, Santa Barbara turned to small ball to score the first runs of the game in the 10th.
The first run came courtesy of the ghost runner on second, as Ryan Black crossed home plate thanks to a bunt single by Jalin Flores and a passed ball.
Up 1-0, the Foresters looked for insurance heading into the bottom half, and they got just that. Rocco Garza-Gongora dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance Flores to third and Ryan Galvan gave Santa Barbara the 2-0 lead on an RBI sacrifice fly.
In the bottom half, Blake Pivaroff shut the door on the Blues by striking out the side.
Austin Ledbetter got his first start for Santa Barbara this summer and tossed five scoreless innings before handing it over to the bullpen, who also delivered five scoreless frames.
After Ledbetter, Carson Turnquist, Zach Erdman and Pivaroff combined to shut down the San Luis Obispo offense in the second half of the game.
The Foresters (11-4) and Blues (5-8) will square off once again on Tuesday at 4:30 at Pershing Park.
