The Hawaii Tropics visit the Basilica at Muskrat Slough for a three-game series against the Sacramento Mad Popes. Both teams enter the series 13-11 and tied with the Bikini Krill for 2nd place in the Pacific.
The Tropics take the series opener against the Mad Popes after Frank McMillan goes 3 for 3 with a double (4) and a solo homer (2). He drove in two runs and scored three runs from the 8th hole in the lineup. Quintin Trewartha doubled (6) in a couple of runs in the 7th to cap off a three run rally. Hawaii starter Semih Gurani was forced to throw more pitches than he wanted as he went 3.2 innings. He gave up just five hits and a walk with three Ks in 63 pitches. Jorge Santos picked up the win to get his 1st win as a Tropic. Juan Martinez retired the final two batters to seal the win for Hawaii and get his 1st save of 2058. Hawaii wins 5-2.
The Hawaii Tropics stun the Sacramento faithful with a three-run 9th then shut the Mad Pope offense down for the 2nd win of the series. Trops CF Angelo Lucchesi laced a bases loaded double off the wall in deep right field that cleared the bases and put the visitors up 5-4. Chih Kuang recorded the outs 1 and 2 in the 9th then left the game for Phil Thompson to get the final out and earn the save. Kuang got the win to improve to 1-1. Elvin Hilliard made the start for Hawaii allowing three runs on six hits and four walks in 5.2 innings. Lucchesi finished the game 3 for 5 with a double (4), scored a run and had 4 RBI.
The Trops put a scare into Mad Popes fans as they scored three runs again in the top of the 9th but fell short as the M’opes win 10-8. Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea made just 38 pitches and gave up seven runs on six hits and two walks as he falls to 1-3. Luis Estrada had a four hit day for Hawaii with a double (3) and three singles and scored two runs.
Hawaii wins the series 2-1.
The Trops return home for a six-game homestand beginning with a three-game series against the Vancouver Mounties. Hawaii took 2 of 3 in Vancouver early in April to set up this series.
The Mounties offense pounded out 8 runs on 17 hits as they battered Hawaii pitching for the get go. Trops starter Utbah ‘Crawdad Me’ bin Muta had no answer for the Mounties lineup as he gave up seven runs on seven hits and a walk in just two innings. He took the loss to fall to 2-3 with a 4.68 ERA. The bullpen gave up just one run in seven innings of work but still gave up 10 hits. Hawaii’s offense scored just two runs with one run on a solo blast by rookie Jake Diamond. The Mounties win 8-2.
Trops starter Manny Ortiz was lights out for Hawaii throwing 8.2 shutout innings for the win. He gave up just three hits and walked one while striking out two batters. He improved to 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds used three pitches to get the final out of the game. Luis Estrada hit his 6th homer and drove in three runs. Russ McHaney was 1 for 3 with two ribbies. Hawaii wins 6-0.
The Mounties and Trops play the rubber match close, but Vancouver comes away with the win 2-1. Hawaii starter Semih Gurani allowed two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings and was tagged with the loss to fall to 2-2. Hawaii scored just one unearned run in the 5th on a ground ball to second by Angelo Lucchesi that was booted allowing Quintin Trewartha to score. Trewartha was 2 for 3 on the day and 5 for 9 in the series.
Vancouver wins the series 2-1.
The San Fernando Bears leap frogged the division and sits atop the Pacific at 18-12. Sacramento, Hawaii, and Bikini are two games back at 16-14. Vancouver, Valencia, and Long Beach are three games back at 15-15 while Portland is the caboose at 9-21.
GM Jim Walker said, “It’s way too early to tell who’s gonna be in it for the long haul. We' re playing good defense, and our pitching is solid. But our offense is shaky. We allow too many balls in play and that will catch up to us. I think Sacramento, San Fernando, and Long Beach be in it for the long term as the rest of us fade.”
