SAN LUIS OBISPO — The SLO Rattlers’ offense had been in a deep sleep, going over 30 innings without a run until the third inning of Sunday’s game.
The Santa Barbara Foresters offense took a little nap in the opening innings, but woke up in a big way.
A 2-0 Rattler lead turned into a 12-3 Santa Barbara victory, giving the Foresters a perfect 6-0 sweep of the Rattlers on the season and putting themselves 4.5 games up in their quest for a seventh consecutive California Collegiate League title.
“Our guys are extremely competitive, even with each other because they are battling for playing time. They want to win every day,” said manager Bill Pintard.
The Foresters (28-9, 12-3) had six multi-hit performances on the day, led by captain Ryan Goetz’s 3-for-5 outing, and put up six runs in the top of the ninth inning to turn their early deficit into a blowout win. James Wharton hit a two-run homer and Jeremy Rathjen added a three-run shot of the left field foul pole in the frame.
Pintard pointed to the first Foresters run as the key offensive play of the game. Brandon Loy laid down a perfect drag bunt for a two-out single in the sixth and Goetz followed with an RBI double to get Santa Barbara on the board.
Starter Sam Spangler was in a tough spot, having to follow Matt Leonard’s no-hitter from Friday and A.J. Griffin’s 13-strikeout win on Saturday. Spangler found the strike zone but wasn’t as sharp as the other two starters, allowing two runs on seven hits through five innings. He struck out six.
“Sam is a a hard-luck pitcher sometimes. He bends but he never breaks,” said Pintard.
Kevin Dickey picked up the win on two innings of one-hit ball in relief, striking out the side in order on nine pitches in the sixth. Big John Lambert came in and closed the door.
Lambert, who always plays with his back pockets full, was carrying a dollar bill and a handful of bubble gum in one pocket and $1.25 in quarters plus some empty fruit snack wrappers in the other. He gave up two hits and a run over the final two innings.
The Foresters host the San Luis Obispo Blues in a non-league contest on Monday at 5 p.m. Pintard will be trying for his 600th win with the team.
