The Tropics are home again but just for a three-game series. The Trops take on the San Fernando Bears for the final time in 2056.
Game 1- Hawaii’s Carlos Sanchez and Will Patterson combine for three RBI while the Trops used their two starter strategy to hold the Bears to just one run to win the series opener.
Carlos Sanchez was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI while Will Patterson was 3 for 4 with a solo homer in the 3rd inning. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 4 and scored a run while C Frank McMillan was 1 for 2 with a couple of walks and scored a run.
Ricardo Tapia made the start going 3.1 innings allowing a run on three hits and a walk. Phil Thompson followed with 3.2 scoreless innings allowing just a hit and issued a walk. He struck out a batter and earned the win to improve to 7-8 with a 3.87 ERA. Bill Phillips pitched 1.2 innings giving up just two hits for his 3rd hold. Utkan Gocek made a one out save with a K to end the game.
Hawaii wins 3-1.
Game 2- The Tropics put together three good innings on offense to take a big lead then survive a Bear rampage in the 9th to get the win. Hawaii’s offense hit four homer, two triples and a double to score seven runs against the Bears. Mitch Wareham was 2 for 2 with a triple and a solo homer. He scored two runs and drove in three. Adam Backhouse was 1 for 4 with a solo homer. Russ McHaney was also 1 for 4 with a solo homer, his 17th of the season. Katsumi Matsumoto was 1 for 3 with a solo homer in the 7th inning. Vicente Mendez was 2 for 4 with a double, triple and scored two runs.
Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea was forced to throw 92 pitches by the Bears lineup in just 4.1 innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and four walks while fanning five batters. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds earned the win going two innings allowing just two hits with two Ks. He improves to 10-5 with a 3.49 ERA. Luis Perez pitched 1.2 scoreless innings giving up just one hit with three Ks. Juan Martinez was catching a little bit too much of the strike zone and San Fernando mounted their comeback. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in an inning of work. He struck out one but finally got the job done.
Hawaii wins 7-4.
Game 3- Hawaii’s offense battered the Bears pitching staff again with three doubles and three homers to complete the series sweep. DH Adam Backhouse was 2 for 4 with a solo homer in the 7th inning. Carlos Sanchez was 2 for 3 with his 17th double of the season in the 4th and his 15th homer in the 5th. He scored two and drove in two. Katsumi Matsumoto was 3 for 4 with a double and a solo homer. He scored two runs and drove in two. Will Patterson was 1 for 4 with a double, scored two runs and drove in one.
On the mound, Hawaii’s Elvin Hilliard pitched seven solid innings allowing just a run on three hits and three walks. He fanned eight batters as he improves to 10-7 with a 3.19 ERA. Manny Ortiz was shaky in his relief appearance allowing two runs on two hits. He struck out one in 1.1 innings. Phil Thompson came on later in the game than usual and shut the door on the Bears. He recorded the final two outs of the game getting a 6-3 groundout on his 1st pitch and another one on this 3rd pitch of the inning.
Hawaii wins 8-3.
The Tropics sweep the three-game series.
GM Jim Walker said, “We will be submitting a complaint with the league concerning the ridiculous schedule that we play. Short road trips are costing the team in money and rest. It’s a long trip even with today’s technology. It’s nice we won.”
