The Tropics visit the Portland Lumberjacks for a four game series at The Trail of Multnomah.
Game 1- The Tropics fall behind 4-0 early but tie the game in the fifth on a Grand Slam by Rookie CF Doeke Soethout. Then in the top of the sixth LF Bastiao Fardos hit a solo homer to give the Tropics a 5-4 lead that held for their 40th win of the season.
Soethout hits a Slam
Soethout and Fardos were both 1 for 4.
SP Jesus Gonzalez gave up 4 runs early but settled down to earn the win, his 5th of the season. Gonzalez pitched 6 innings giving 4 runs on 7 hits. He walked 4 batters and struck out 5.
RP Norm McConnell earned his 16th save of the season walking 1 and striking out 2 in the ninth.
Hawaii wins 5-4.
Game 2- Portland Veteran SP Hector Diaz has had his struggles the past 3 seasons but he had none of those this night as he 1 hit the Tropics through 5 innings. He gave up the ball to his bullpen and didn’t have to worry as RP Alejandro Soto (2.2 IP, 1 hit, 3 walks, 5 K) and Closer Vicente Venalde (1.1 IP, 1 hit, 3 K) shut down the Hawaii Offense.
SP Stephen Taub was on the receiving end of the pitching beat down. He gave up 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings. He walked 2 and struck out 6.
LF Bastaio Fardos fared the best against the Lumberjacks going 2 for 4.
Portland wins 4-0.
Game 3- The Hawaii Tropics cannot get out of their own way. A night after getting handled by Lumberjack Pitching the Trops give runs to Portland by committing two costly errors. An error in the second on 2B Jack “Junkyard” Nichols loaded the bases that led to an unearned run. In the bottom of the fifth backup C Steffen Peterson fielded a dribbler out in front of the plate and threw the ball away leading to a run.
Again the Tropics bats were silent most of the night. The only big hit was a homer by DH Ernest McBride.
RF Mike Campbell was 2 for 4 with a double.
SP Zach Johnson pitched 6 innings and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits. He gave up a walk and struck out 7 batters.
Portland wins 5-2.
Game 4- CF Doeke Soethout bangs two homers and the Tropics survive a bullpen implosion to split the four game series.
Soethout was 2 for 3 with 3 runs, 3 RBI and 3 walks. He is hitting .318 with 15 homers and 43 RBI.
Bastaio Fardos is heating up as he was 4 for 5, a double, a walk and 2 runs scored.
Rookie SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani made his first BBA start of his career. Destefani was on a pitch count and was watched carefully by Tropics Manager Kelly Finley and Pitching Coach Tony Torres. He allowed just 1 run on 5 hits and gave up a walk over 6 innings of work. He threw 90 pitches (59 strikes) and struck out 7 batters.
Destefani said after the game, “I felt really good as the game went along. I’m glad the team is putting trust in me.”
Tony Torres said, “Nicky was hitting his spots and was tough today. All the work he has done in the past year is paying off.”
Hawaii wins 11-6 and split the series with Portland.
The Tropics finish the road trip with a three game series with the Seattle Storm at the King County Complex.
Game 1- Hawaii SP Alaric Wullenweber has shown his talent throughout this season and this game was no different. He pitched 8 1/3 innings allowing 1 run on 2 hits and no walks while striking out 14 Storm Hitters. But the Tropics faced the same problem as the Storm, a pitcher with talent. Storm SP Luther Summers was just a bit better. He gave up just 3 hit and 2 walks while striking out 10 Tropics Hitters.
Wullenweber with a gem in a losing cause
The Storm scored the only run they needed in the bottom of the ninth with a single, wild pitch and a double to walk it off.
Seattle takes the opener 1-0.
Game 2- The Tropics fall behind 6-0 early and score 5 in the sixth and 1 in the eighth by fall short.
SP Jesus Gonzalez gave up 6 runs on 7 hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. He struck out 2 and fell to 5-7.
C Ron Shiplack was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs and an RBI.
LF Bastaio Fardos was 2 for 4 with a double, a run and 2 RBI.
Seattle wins 7-6.
Game 3- Seattle Storm SP Ken “John John” Walter scattered 6 hits over 9 innings and struck out 7 batters as he cruised to a win.
Seattle wins 10-0 and sweeps the series.
