The Hawaii Tropics begin a four-game series against the Bikini Krill at the recently completed Forever Field.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics bullpen allows the Bikini Krill offense to whittle away at a 4-1 lead and tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. The game remained tied until the Krill walked it off on a sac fly off reliever Bill Williams. Williams took the loss to fall to 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA.
Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea was wild through 6.2 innings allowing just a run on a hit but walked six batters. He struck out three in a no decision. Reliever Luis Perez let the Krill back into the game allowing a couple of runs in 1.1 innings. Juan Martinez blew the save after allowing a run on three hits in an inning of work.
Bill Phillips was efficient in his three innings of relief. He threw just 28 pitches and struck out one while holding the Krill hitless.
Hawaii 2B Adhyapayana Mehta led Tropics hitters going 3 for 7, swiped two bags and scored two runs. Bob Chastain was 1 for 4 with a two-run double. Carlos Sanchez was 1 for 6 with a solo homer.
Bikini wins 5-4.
Game 2- The Trops trailed the Krill 7-3 before scoring four runs in the 7th and four more in the 8th to even the series 1-1. Hawaii SS Thomas Kramer had a big day at the plate going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer in the 2nd inning and a three-run blast in the 7th inning. He also walked, scored three runs, and drove in five. Bob Chastain was 3 for 5 with a solo homer and an RBI double in the 7th. Karunamaya Makarand was 2 for 5 with a walk, scored two runs and drove in two.
Elvin Hilliard continues to catch too much of the plate with his pitches as he allowed six runs on ten hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out three in a no decision. Utkan Gocek was Dr. Jekyll this time with two scoreless innings. He walked two batters but earned the win to improve to 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds pitched a scoreless inning allowing a hit with two Ks.
Hawaii wins 11-7.
Game 3- The Tropics get a rare well pitched game and ride it to another win over the Krill. Phil Thompson was the 1st on the hill allowing two runs on four hits and a K in four innings. Next up was Semih Gurani with two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and came away with the win to improve to 2-0 with a 4.70 ERA. Luis Perez was better this time as he gave up just a hit in two innings of work with four Ks. Juan Martinez earned his 2nd save in an inning pitched with a walk.
Karunamaya Makarand was 1 for 4 with a three-run homer in the 4th inning and a sac fly. He scored a run and had four RBI. Will Patterson was 2 for 4 with an RBI and scored a run.
Hawaii wins 5-2.
Game 4- The Hawaii Tropics trailed 4-1 but scored single runs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings to tie the game up. The Trops take a short-lived lead in the 10th with a walk and a stolen base by Makarand. He scored on an RBI single by Carlos Sanchez. The Krill tied it back up with a solo homer off Hawaii reliever Bill Williams. Hawaii took the lead for good with an error after a strikeout that allowed Angelo Lucchesi take first. He was forced out on a fielder’s choice by Tommy Kramer. Kramer took second on a walk then third after Adhyapayana Mehta reached on an error. Kramer then scored on an 0-2 wild pitch to Carlos Sanchez that made the World groan. The Teddy Bear came out for his second inning of work and finished off the Krill for his 2nd win of the season.
Carlos Sanchez was 4 for 7 with a solo homer, three RBI and scored two runs. Tommy Kramer was 3 for 7 with a double, scored a run and drove in one. Angelo Lucchesi was 3 for 5 with two walks, an RBI and scored a run.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
The Tropics wins the series 3-1.
