The Hawaii Tropics host the Nashville Bluebirds in a three game series at Diamond Head.
Game 1- Tropics SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani pitches 8 strong innings but that was not enough as the Bluebirds eke out the win.
Destefani allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, walked no batters and struck out 8. He falls to 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA.
DH Ernest McBride was 1 for 4 with a solo homer.
Nashville wins 4-2.
Game 2- The “Snow God” shut down the Tropics offense as the Bluebirds dominate Hawaii. Elliot Buckland was unhittable allowing no runs on 4 hits, no walks and struck out 4 batters. He improves to 2-0 with a minuscule 0.99 ERA.
SP Stephen Taub gave a decent showing pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs (0 earned) on 5 hits, a walk and struck out 5 batters. He falls to 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA.
Backup C Steffen Peterson had the most success against the Snow God going 2 for 3 with a single and a double.
Nashville wins 6-0.
Game 3- Hawaii Ace Alaric Wullenweber was too much for the Bluebirds going 6 2/3 innings allowing no runs on just 2 hits, surrendered a walk and struck out 13 batters. He improves to 2-3 with a 2.38 ERA.
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RP Luis Santiago finished the game strong for the Tropics pitching 2 1/3 clean innings. He struck out 3 in a masterful relief appearance.
3B Gary Allen was 1 for 3 with a 2 run homer.
LF Bastiao Fardos was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Hawaii wind 4-0.
Hawaii continues their homestand with a three game series with the Valencia Stars at Diamond Head.
Game 1- The Tropics roll to another shutout win at home. SP Zak Johnson was just as good as Wullenweber in his previous start. Johnson pitched 8 innings, allowing no runs on 4 hits, a walk and struck out 9 batters. He improves to 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA.
RP Norm McConnell pitched a clean ninth to get some work in.
All four runs for the Tropics came off a solo homer.
Gary Allen was 3 for 4 and homered again.
RF Mike Campbell was 1 for 3 with a solo homer.
CF Doeke Soethout was 2 for 4 with a solo homer.
2B Jack “Junkyard” Nichols was 1 for 3 with a solo homer.
Hawaii wins 4-0.
Game 2- The Tropics get more good pitching and Mike Campbell goes 4 for 4 powering the Hawaii offense. SP Jesus Gonzalez pitched 6 2/3 innings, surrendered 2 runs on 6 hits, 4 walks and struck out 6 batters.
RP Douglas Wils was the relief star this game as he pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing just 3 hits and struck out 2 batters. He picked up the win, his first of the season.
Campbell singled, doubled and homered two times. He drove in 3 runs and scored 2. Campbell is hitting .333 with 7 homers and 19 RBI. On defense, he threw out another runner at the plate.
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Hawaii wins 4-2.
Game 3- The Hawaii Bullpen showed some cracks as the Tropics fans watch a 7-2 lead evaporate. Then, RP Felipe Lopez gave up the eventual winning run.
Nicky Destefani went 5 2/3 innings, gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6 batters. He left the gas with the lead but RP Maxime Manceau was blitzed for 5 runs on 6 hits in an inning of work.
McBride was 3 for 5 with 2 singles, a triple, 2 RBI and a run scored.
Miguel Rodriguez was 3 for 3 with 3 singles and 2 walks. He has now played SS, 3B and 2B this season and will see more time around the infield. Rodriguez said, “I just want to contribute to this team.”
Bastiao Fardos was 2 for 5 with 2 singles, 2 runs and an RBI.
Valencia wins 8-7.
