The Hawaii Tropics embark on their final road trip and make their first stop in Portland. The Trops will play a three-game series against the Lumberjacks at The Trail in Multnomah.
Game 1- The Portland Lumberjacks shut out the Tropics their pitchers scatter nine hits and walk none in the win. Hawaii CF Angelo Lucchesi led all Trops hitters going 4 for 4. SS Thomas Kramer added two hits in four at bats.
Hawaii used the two-starter strategy with Ricardo Tapia making the start. He pitched 3.2 scoreless innings giving up just one hit and fanned five batters. Phil Thompson followed Tapia and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two in 2.1 innings. He falls to 8-10 with a 4.11 ERA. Luis Perez didn’t help matters as he gave up three runs on three hits and retired just one batter with a K. Rookie Bill Williams is making a good impression with management as he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings and gave up just one hit.
Portland wins 5-0.
Game 2- The Hawaii Tropics even the series in extra innings after the bullpen blows another save. Hawaii SS Thomas Kramer committed three errors with one that led to the Lumberjacks comeback. Trops reliever John Moore gave up four runs (three earned) on a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning but Chih Kuang was tagged with the blown save as he allowed the inherited run on a hit and a walk. His line was 1.2 innings pitched with a hit, walk and no runs. Utkan Gocek took control in extras as he pitched 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed just a hit and fanned three batters. He earned the win to improve to 6-6 with a 3.89 ERA. Bill Phillips earned a cheap two-out save allowing just a hit in his 6th save.
3B Mitch Wareham was 1 for 4 with a three-run homer in the 6th inning. CF Carlos Sanchez was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI. But the hero of the game was LF Shafiq Zahir. Zahir has had a tough season but came through for his teammates with a solo homer to put Hawaii up by one in the 13th. He was 2 for 5 with a walk, an RBI and scored three runs.
Zahir said, “I’ve struggled. This felt good.”
On the mound, Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea pitched 6.2 innings allowing a run in eight hits and two walks. He struck out a batter in a no decision. Juan Martinez pitched 1.1 innings of relief allowing just a hit with two Ks.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
Game 3- The Tropics get some good pitching, no errors and three runs to get a win and take the series. Hawaii’s Elvin Hilliard threw 6.2 innings allowing a run on four hits and a walk. He struck out five batters as he earned the win to improve to 12-7 with a 2.96 ERA. Manny Ortiz pitched 1.1 clean innings with two Ks. Chih Kuang earned his 4th save with a scoreless inning.
Angelo Lucchesi was 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Russ McHaney was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo homer. C Katsumi Matsumoto was 2 for 3 with a solo homer in the 3rd inning.
Hawaii wins 3-1.
The Tropics win the series 2-1.
