The Tropics make their next stop in Yellow Springs for a four-game series against the Nine at Utopia Field.
Game 1- The Nine open the series with a win over the Tropics in a pitcher’s duel. Hawaii pitchers allowed a couple of runs on six hits, but Yellow Springs staff allowed the Trops just a run on three hits. Hawaii used the non-traditional opener/follower with Utkan Gocek opening the game. He pitched an inning allowing the Nine a run on two hits with a K. Semih Gurani followed with three innings of work allowing a run on three hits and two walks. He struck out a batter and was tagged with the loss to fall to 4-6 with a 3.46 ERA. Chih Kuang ate some innings in relief allowing just a hit while fanning three batters in three innings. Juan Martinez finished the game with a clean inning and a K.
Hawaii’s only run was on a solo homer by Shafiq Zahir, the 9th of the season for the 7th year Tropic. The two other hits by Hawaii were singles by Adhyapayana Mehta and Angelo Lucchesi.
Yellow Springs wins 2-1.
Game 2- The Hawaii offense came back three times but ultimately lost in extras to the Nine. The Trops trailed the Nine 1-0 after the 1st inning but tied the game with an RBI single by Katsumi Matsumoto. Yellow Springs responded in the bottom of the 5th with three runs off Hawaii starter John Moore chasing him from the game. The Trops came back again in the 8th inning with a four-run outburst to take the lead 5-4. The big hit on the inning was a three-run blast by Tomas Borges. The Nine scraped a run across in the bottom of the 9th off Hawaii reliever Bill Williams. The two teams went silent until the top of the 13th when Carlos Sanchez put his team up a run with a solo homer to right that barely cleared the wall. It was his 16th homer of the season. Hawaii Manager Rich Kerr gave the ball to another one of the Bill’s, Bill Phillips, to close out the game. Phillips wasn’t up to the task as he gave up two homers to the Nine as they walked it off. Phillips falls to 4-7 with a 3.41 ERA.
Yellow Springs wins 8-6.
Game 3- Hawaii starter Elvin Hilliard excellent against the Nine lineup through 5.1 innings allowing just a hit in the win. He walked one and struck out four as he improves to 7-10 with a 4.23 ERA. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds allowed a run in an inning on two hits and a walk but Utkan Gocek came on for the final 2.2 innings to shutout the Nine late. He gave up just a hit with two Ks for his 3rd save of the season and lowers his ERA to 3.91.
On offense, Hawaii scored four runs on ten hits and three walks while stranding 16 baserunners. Angelo Lucchesi was 2 for 4 with a two-run triple (9) in the 4th inning. Rookie 3B Felipe Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a solo homer (14) in the 6th inning. He scored two runs and drove in one on the day. Carlos Sanchez was 2 for 4 with an RBI and scored a run.
Hawaii wins 4-1.
Game 4- The Hawaii bullpen melts down as the Nine comeback with five late runs to get a series win. Bill Phillips gave up two runs on four hits in the 8th inning to allow Yellow Springs back into the game. Manny Ortiz completed the meltdown giving up the final two runs and the game to the Nine. He falls to 5-9 with a 4.66 ERA. They wasted a start by a suddenly effective Gerardo Rea. Can some tell Rea the season is almost over? Rea allowed just an unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out three in 4.1 innings.
3B Mitch Wareham was 3 for 6 with a two-run double (24) in the 7th inning. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 3 with a ribbie. Bob Chastain was 3 for 4 with a double (19) and scored a run.
Yellow Springs wins 5-4.
The Nine wins the series 3-1.
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