The Hawaii Tropics begin a 14 game road trip with the first stop in Chicago to play a 4 game series with the Black Sox at Black Sox Park.
Game 1- The Tropics survive three errors In the opener as the Black Sox commit two errors of their own. SP Zach Johnson pitched around 2 errors and 5 self inflicted walks. Johnson allowed just 2 hits in 5 innings and struck out 2. He earned his 5th win of the season and has a 3.76 ERA this season.
C Ron Shiplack committed one of the errors but made up for it by going 2 for 4 at the plate with his first homer as a Tropic.
RF Mike Campbell hit a two run homer in the first inning for his 12th of the season.
DH Ernest McBride is catching fire as he was 1for 3 driving in 3 and a walk.
LF Bastiao Fardos was 3 for 5 with 2 runs and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 7-5.
Game 2- All Hawaii starting position players get at least 1 hit as the Tropics ambush the Balck Sox with 8 runs in the final two innings. With the game tied 6-6, RF Mike Campbell hit a 3 run homer to give the Trops the lead for good. CF Doeke Soethout hit a 3 run homer in the top of the ninth to add some insurance runs to put the Sox back in the drawer.
Campbell was 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI while adding 2 walks.
Soethout was 3 for 6 with 2 runs and 3 RBI.
DH Ernest McBride was 2 for 6.
3B Gary Allen was 2 for 3 with a homer, double, 2 runs, 3 RBI and 2 walks.
SP Alaric Wullenweber struggled but did just enough to keep the Black Sox at bay. Wullenweber allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and issued 2 walks while striking out 5 over 4 2/3 innings of work.
Hawaii wins 14-7.
Game 3- DH Ernest McBride (2-4) was a one man wrecking crew against the Chicago Black Sox. McBride hit a two run homer and a bases loaded double that cleared the bases. He scored 3 runs and drove in 5 leading the team in both categories.
1B Manuel Aguilar, Jr. was 2 for 4 with a homer, double, 2 runs and 2 RBI.
SP Jesus Gonzalez was steady over 5 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and walking 4 batters. He struck out 2 in 101 pitches (58 strikes). Gonzalez improves to 4-6 with a 3.69 ERA.
Hawaii wins 11-4.
Game 4- The Tropics and Black Sox engaged in a pitching duel in the series finale. It was a nice change of pace from the previous three games that saw baseballs rocketing all over Black Sox Park.
The stalemate was broken in the top of the ninth on a solo homer off the bat of 1B Ernest McBride. McBride lifted a CL Gilberto Sosa sinker and drove it 5 rows up in left center field to give the Tropics the only run they would need.
McBride said after the game, “I had a feeling he wanted me to keep the ball on the ground. I figured he would throw that hard sinker to get me to pound it into the ground. I pounded it the other way. Ha!”
SP Stephen Taub was great allowing just 5 hits and issuing 3 walks over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out 3 but got the no decision but lowered his ERA to 4.76.
Taub was tough to hit on Wednesday Night
RP Felipe Lopez pitched a perfect 2/3 of an inning to get the win, his 2nd of the season.
RP Norm McConnell earned his 14th save of the season. He has a 2.89 ERA this season.
Hawaii wins 1-0 and sweeps the series.
The Tropics continue the road trip with a stop in Madison for a quick two game series with the Wolves at Shotz Stadium.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics Offense, led by DH Ernest McBride, continued their onslaught in the Heartland Division. McBride was 3 for 5 with his 12th homer of the season. He drove in 4 runs and scored two.
McBride's beautiful home run swing
RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 6 with 3 runs scored and an RBI.
LF Bastaio Fardos was 2 for 4 with his 8th homer. He scored 2 and drove in 2.
C Ron Shiplack was 3 for 5 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBI. Shiplack is hitting .329 with a homer and 7 RBI for Hawaii.
SP Zach Johnson did just enough to get his 6th win of the season. He pitched 5 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. He did strike out 9 batters.
RP Felipe Lopez earned his 2nd save of the season pitching 2 innings and allowing just 1 hit and striking out 1.
Hawaii wins 14-5.
Game 2- CF Doeke Soethout (Grand Slam), RF Mike Campbell (Solo Homer) and DH Ernest McBride (Solo Homer) go back to back to back in the top of the second inning and SP Alaric Wullenweber was good as Hawaii sweeps Madison.
Wullenweber allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 7 on his way to his 6th victory of the season.
Soethout was 2 for 5 with 5 ribbies and a run scored. He is hitting .318 with 12 homers and 26 RBI since being called up.
Hawaii wins 8-4 and sweep the series.
