The Tropics return home for a 13-game home stand. They play the first nine games, take a break with the All-Star Game, then play the final four games. The first team in Hawaii is San Fernando for a three-game series.
Game 1- The San Fernando Bears offense mauls Hawaii’s pitching staff for 14 runs on 15 hits and 3 walks. Tropics pitchers couldn’t keep the Bears out the trash bins as every pitcher that took the mound took a hit. It began with John Moore allowing six runs on four hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three as he falls to 0-3 with a 6.51 ERA. Bill Ritz got his fingers too close to the cage as he was bit for two runs on two hits and a K in 1.1 innings. Chih Kuang was awful allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out a batter in 1.2 innings of work. Phil Thompson was the last victim as he gave up three runs on three hits while fanning two batters in 1.1 innings.
The offense wasn’t bad but again didn’t take advantage of walks or errors. They managed just four runs on five hits while drawing eight walks and striking out just three times. LF Vicente Mendez was 2 for 4 with a three-run homer (1) in the 6th inning. He scored two runs and drove in three on the day. CF Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 5 with a stolen base (2) and scored a run. 1B Karunamaya Makarand was 1 for 3 with a stolen base (5) and scored a run.
San Fernando wins 14-4.
Game 2- The Tropics strike for two runs in the 1st inning, but the Bears claw their way back with a six-run 3rd inning. The Trops chipped aways at the lead with a run in the 5th and five more in the 7th to take the lead. That lasted until the top of the 8th when the Bears scored four runs against Hawaii reliever Bill Phillips. Phillips gave up those runs on four hits and a walk in 2/3 of an inning. He struck out a batter as he falls to 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA. The Tropics mounted a final comeback try in the bottom of the 9th but could push across one run before the final out.
Hawaii pitcher Bill Williams kept the San Fernando offense quite for two innings before he melted down. He allowed six runs on five hits, three of which were homers, and two walks. He struck out one batter in a no decision. Utkan Gocek came out the bullpen slinging heat as he allowed just two hits in two innings. The ‘Teddy Bear’ came into the game as tamed the Bears in 2.1 scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and fanned two batters.
The Hawaii offense put up enough runs to win except for this any game this season. 1B Tomas Borges had the biggest hit of the day with a Grand Slam in the 7th inning. 2B Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 4 with a double (13), scored two runs and had an RBI. Vicente Mendez was 2 for 4 with a walk and scored two runs. Is Mendez back or is this a mirage?
San Fernando wins 10-9.
Game 3- The Bears win their fifth straight game and complete the sweep of the Tropics. Hawaii can’t win offensively, defensively or with pitching. The Trops held the Bears down to two runs on six hits and four walks, but Hawaii’s offense managed just one runs on three hits and four walk.
Hawaii starter Manny Ortiz pitched 4.1 innings allowing a run on five hits and a walk with two Ks. Phil Thompson made his 2nd appearance of the series and gave up a run on a solo homer in 2.1 innings pitched. He struck out a batter and he falls to 0-3 with a 4.14 ERA.
Hawaii scored their lone run on a solo homer in the 2nd inning by Tomas Borges.
San Fernando wins 2-1.
The Bears sweep the three-game series.
GM Jim Walker said, “The Bears are a good team and they’re on the rise. Our team is a shitshow. I’ve had a talk with Rich Kerr and he’s gonna change some things up.”
