The Hawaii Tropics begin a 10 game road trip with a three game series against the Nashville Bluebirds.
Game 1- Nashville SP Barney Lindsey and two relievers combine for a two hit shutout of the Tropics to open the series.
SP Alaric Wullenweber only made it through 4 2/3 innings for the Trops throwing 100 pitches. He allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits. He walked three and fanned seven. He falls to 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA.
Mike Campbell and Ira Sanchez were the only Hawaii hitters to get a hit.
Nashville wins 4-0.
Game 2- Nashville chases Hawaii SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani in the worst start of his career. He pitched just 1 1/3 innings giving up eight runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out just one. He falls to 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 4 with a solo homer. Rookie C Katsumi Matsumoto was 3 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Lorenzo Gonzales was 3 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Nashville wims 15-3.
Game 3- Nashville SP Adrian Custello shut out the Tropics on four hits as the Bluebirds sweep the Tropics.
Hawaii SP Maup Manshert had the best result of any of the Tropics starters with seven innings of work. He allowed four runs on six and a walk. He struck out six but falls to 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA.
Mike Campbell is the only consistent hitter for the Tropics going 2 for 4 on the day.
First year Hawaii Manager Ernesto Garcia said, “We are struggling in every facet of the game right now. We are hoping that Matsumoto can work with the pitching staff and get us some better results.”
Nashville wins 4-0.
The Tropics next stop is the San Fernando Valley for a four game series against the San Fernando Bears.
Game 1- Hawaii SP Zak ‘Hitman’ Johnson stops the losing streak with a great effort against the Bears. Johnson pitched six innings giving up just a run on four hits, walked one and fanned one. He improves to 3-4 with a 5.70 ERA.
Mike Campbell provided the bulk of the offense going 2 for 4 with a solo home, scoring a run and driving in two. Matsumoto was 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
Campbell said, “I really miss Ernie.”
Hawaii wins 3-1.
Game 2- The San Fernando Bears even the series with a drubbing of the Tropics. Hawaii SP Bob McConnellexperienced his first hiccup of the season going 2 2/3 innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out just two. He falls to 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA.
Mike Campbell was 3 for 4 with two bombs, scoring twice and driving in three. He is hitting 3.35 with 11 homers and 29 RBI so far. Matsumoto was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
San Fernando wins 11-4.
Game 3- SP Alaric Wullenweber got back on track with 6 2/3 strong innings. He allowed a run on just two hits. He walked two and fanned eight in improving to 5-4 on the season.
Larry DeCourteney was 2 for 3 with a solo homer. Omar Altaner was 1 for 4 with a solo homer.
Hawaii wins 2-1.
Game 4- The Hawaii Tropics score three run late to take the lead and hold on for a win. Nick Destefani kept the game close going 6 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five. He was relieved by Luis Santiago. Santiago finished the seventh inning getting the final two outs with one via the strikeout. Ronnie Sprinkles pitched just 1/3 of an inning allowing two hits and striking out one. Then, Ernie Poole came on and shut everything down. He allowed just a hit in 1 2/3 innings fo work for the save.
Lorenzo Gonzales was 3 for 5 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Omar Altaner was also 3 for 5 with a double, a run and an RBI. Mike Campbell cam on as a pinch hitter and was 1 for 1 with a run and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 5-4 and wins the series 3-1.
