The Tropics host the Nashville Bluebirds at Diamond Head in a four game series.
Game 1- Down 5-2 in the series opener, the Bluebirds put up an 8 spot on the Trops in the seventh inning and hold on for the win. SP Stephen Taub started the fire in the seventh giving up a single to 1B Tony Frost and a walk to RF William Wood before getting yanked. RP Douglas Wils took the ball and dumped gas on the fire. He walked the first hitter he faced, SS Francisco Otero, to load the bases. With the infield at double play depth, LF Gipper Kengos hit a slow roller past the mound. Tropics 2BJack “Junkyard” Nichols charged hard and fielded the ball bare handed and threw home. Nichols said after the game, “ It was too slow to try for a double play and my momentum was carrying me toward the plate. It was the only play I had.”
The play wasn’t close as Frost was forced at home for out #1. With the bases jammed and one out, DH Ernesto Sousaworked a walk scoring Wood as Wils continued to nibble. The next batter was C Alberto Rodriguez. Rodriguez didn’t wait long as he sent a 1-1 cutter down the third base line that was knocked down by Tropics 3B Gary Allen. The ball dribbled away for a cheap hit as Otero scores. CF Kidane Ata followed that up with a single to right that scored Kengos and Sousa. Wils was getting too much of the plate and did it again with 3B Jesus Yan. Yan stroked the first pitch he saw into left to load the bases again. 2B Mike England was looking to do some damage. After fouling off the first pitch and watching the second be called a strike, England sent the third pitch into the left center field seats for a Grand Slam and the dagger in the dagger in the hearts of Tropics Fans.
The Tropics scored 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh but that as close as they could get.
Taub pitched 6 innings allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and he issued 3 walks while striking out 8.
Wils was a wreck. He pitched 1/3 of an inning getting hammered for 6 runs on 4 hits and a couple of walks. He falls to 0-2 and his ERA balloons to 6.75.
LF Bastiao Fardos was 2 for 4 with a 3 run homer. He scored 2 runs and drove in 3.
RF Mike Campbell was 1 for 5 with a 2 run homer.
CF Doeke Soethout was 2 for 4 with a double, a stone base and 2 runs.
3B Gary Allen was 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored and 2 RBI.
Nashville wins 10-8.
After the game, GM James Walker announced that a trade had been made. The Tropics had acquired young C Ron Shiplack from the Charm City Jimmies for SP Jim “Bullets” Wilkinson.
Walker said, “Shiplack gives up an upgrade at the catcher position and a player that will be here for the foreseeable future.”
Game 2- Nashville SP Chris Moran made his first BBA start of his young career and dominated the Tropics getting his first win.
SP Jesus Gonzalez gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 6 and falls to 1-5 on the season with a 3.54 ERA.
CF Doeke Soethout was 2 for 4 with a solo homer off Moran in the sixth.
Nashville wins 4-1.
Game 3- The Hawaii Offense picks it up and SP Alaric Wullenweber strikes out 14 as the Tropics recover and finally get a game off the Bluebirds.
Wullenweber pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up 2 runs (1 earned0 on just 3 hits while walking none. He improves to 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA.
RP Norm McConnell earned his 9th save with 2/3 of an inning of work.
CF Doeke Soethout was 3 for 4 with his 7th bomb of the year to go with a double and a single. He scored 2 and drove in 1.
RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 3 with a double, stolen base and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 6-4.
Game 4- DH Ernesto McBride powered the Tropics with a double and a Grand Slam and the bullpen gets the job done as Hawaii splits the series with Nashville.
McBride was 2 for 5 with 4 RBI.
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RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 5 with a run scored.
C Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 8-6.
The Hawaii Tropics travel to Louisville for a 2 game series with the Sluggers at Kentucky Plant Stadium.
Game 1- The Sluggers score 6 runs early then survive a charge by the Trops to take the opener.
SP Zach Johnson struggled with the Sluggers hitters giving up 5 runs on 7 hits. He issued 3 walks and struck out no one in 2 1/3 innings of work.
LF Bastaio Fardos was 1 for 4 with a triple and an RBI.
C Ron Shiplack was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Louisville wins 6-4.
Game 2- The Louisville Sluggers score early and late as they crush the Tropics 9-1 in the series finale.
RF Mike Campbell was 1 for 4 with an RBI. Campbell is hitting .323 with 8 homers and 42 RBI this season.
Louisville wins 9-1 and sweeps the series.
