The Tropics return home for a three-game series against the Long Beach Surfers then go back on the road beginning with a two-game series versus the Stars in Valencia.
Game 1- The Hawaii offense used a three-run rally in the 3rd inning and a two-run rally in the 4th to take a 5-1 lead then their pitching does the rest to secure the win. Trops SS Thomas Kramer had the big hit in the 3rd inning with a solo blast (9) and budding rookie star Felipe Hernandez was 2 for 4 and hit a two-run homer (8) in the 4th inning. DH Russ McHaney was 1 for 3 with a two-run triple (1) in the 3rd inning.
On the mound, Manny Ortiz began the game allowing a run on five hits with a walk. He struck out four batters in 4.1 innings in a no decision. Chih Kuang earned the win to improve to 3-2 after allowing a run on two hits while fanning five batters. Semih Gurani pitched a scoreless inning and gave up a hit while walking one. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds earned his 2nd save of the season allowing a run in an innings of work. He walked one and struck out one.
Hawaii wins 5-3.
Game 2- The Tropics trailed the Surfers 4-3 going into the bottom of the 6th but tied the game after a triple by Tomas Borges and a sac fly by Carlos Sanchez. The Trops take the lead in the bottom of the 8th on a solo homer off the bat of Shafiq Zahir. They tacked on an insurance run after another Borges single, then advances to third on a Angelo Lucchesi single. Borges was plated on a Vicente Mendez single.
Hawaii Manager Rich Kerr stuck with his strategy but later in the game he began to matchup his relivers against Surfers hitters. Elvin Hilliard started going four innings and allowing three runs on six hits and a couple of walks while striking out three batters. Phil Thompson threw two innings allowing a run on three hits with two Ks. Bill Phillips pitched a scoreless inning giving up a hit and issued walk. Then Kerr began the matchups. Gurani pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed two hits. Kuang struck out a batter and earned the win. He improves to 4-2 with a 2.33 ERA. Reynolds set down two batters, one via the K. Utkan Gocek induced the last batter to hit a line drive that was snagged by Tommy Kramer to end the game.
Hawaii wins 6-4.
Game 3- The Surfers avoid a series sweep by the lowly Tropics but pounding out 16 hits and scoring 9 runs. Hawaii pitcher John Moore gave up five runs on six hits and three walks in three innings. He struck out four in the loss as he falls to 0-5 with a 5.69 ERA.
Hawaii’s offense scored three runs on ten hits but fanned eleven times in the loss. C Katsumi Matsumoto was 1 for 3 and hit a solo homer (6) in the 3rd inning. Felipe Hernandez hit a pinch-hit solo homer in the 9th inning.
Long Beach wins 9-3.
The Tropics win the series 2-1.
The Tropics hit the road again for a six-game trip beginning in Valencia. Fans are hoping the Trops don’t catch the injury bug from the Stars.
Game 1- Valencia LF Mark Kimball single handedly beats the Trops with a five RBI game lead the Stars to a win. Kimball hit two homers on the day with the 1st one off Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea in the 6th inning. He hit a three-run blast in the 7th off Juan Martinez.
Rea pitched 5.2 innings allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning five batters. Luis Perez took the loss as he gave up two runs on a hit and a walk in an inning. He is 1-6 with a 4.70 ERA.
3B Mitch Wareham was 2 for 4 with a solo homer (5) and two RBI. LF Bob Chastain was 1 for 3 with a two-run homer (6).
Valencia wins 6-4.
Game 2- The Stars outpitch Hawaii the entire series and is rewarded with a two-game sweep. Hawaii’s offense managed 11 hits but drew no walks to help and scored just two runs. Tommy Kramer was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Tomas Borges was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Manny Ortiz made the start and took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out three batters in four innings and falls to 5-6 with a 4.12 ERA. Chih Kuang allowed two runs on 1.2 innings on five hits with a K.
Valencia wins 7-2.
The Stars sweep the two-game series.
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