The Tropics return to Hawaii to play their final home stand of the 2056 BBA Season. They play a three-game series against the Valencia Stars at ‘Iolani Palace.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics score an unearned run in the 2nd inning on an error by Stars second baseman Angel ‘Poison’ Zalapa that allowed Hawaii’s Angelo Lucchesi to score from second. Lucchesi had hit a one-out double and was 1 for 3 on the day.
Hawaii pitching made that run stand up beginning with starter Elvin Hilliard. Hilliard pitched six scoreless innings allowing just two hits and walking three batters. He fanned five and improved to 11-7 with a 3.02 ERA. John Moore is showing some improvement facing Brewster hitter as he pitched 1.1 hitless innings. He walks one and struck out one. Chih Kuang may be coming out of his late season fog as he threw 1.2 hitless innings with three Ks for his 3rd save.
Hawaii wins 1-0.
Game 2- The Stars break out the bats and score three runs in the 8th and two more in the 9th to break a 4-4 tie. Hawaii pitcher Tomas Franco was lit up by the Stars in 1.2 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two. Bill Williams followed with 3.2 hitless innings with a walk to allow the offense to get back in the game. Juan Martinez continued with 1.2 scoreless innings giving up two hits with a couple of walks and two Ks. The wheels fell off when Utkan Gocek gave up three runs on three hits in just 2/3 of an inning to take the loss. He falls to 5-6 with a 4.01 ERA. Manny Ortiz added fuel to the fire as he allowed two more runs on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings.
On offense, Hawaii C Katsumi Matsumoto led the charge in the Trops comeback from down 4-0. He was 1 for 4 with a bases clearing three-run double in the 6th inning. SS Thomas Kramer was 0 for 2 with two walks and scored a run. 1B Mitch Wareham was 2 for 4 with a triple and scored two runs.
Valencia wins 9-4.
Game 3- The Stars get a win in the rubber game to get the series win. Hawaii’s pitching staff did enough to win the game, but the offense was held down by Valencia’s staff. Semih Gurani gave Hawaii 2.1 innings of work and threw 48 pitches. He allowed two runs on four hits with a K. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds followed with three innings allowing a run on four hits and a walk with a K. He took the loss and falls to 11-6 with a 3.47 ERA. Bill Phillips was solid in relief with 2.2 scoreless innings.
2B Adhyapayana Mehta was 1 for 3 with a walk and a double (42) while driving in a run. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 4 and scored a run but struck out three times. 3B Will Patterson was 1 for 2 with a double (30), walked twice, scored a run and drove in one.
Valencia wins 4-2.
The Stars win the series 2-1.
