The Hawaii Tropics limp into Yellow Springs to play a four game series against the Nine at Utopia Field. The Tropics are in a dead heat with the Long Beach Surfers atop the Pacific Division.
Game 1- Hawaii gets a great performance but the bullpen lets the Nine back in the game in extras. The bullpen is the glaring weakness for the Tropics but until of late have worked around it.
SP Jesus Gonzalez pitched 8 innings and gave up just four hits, a walk and struck out seven. He left the game leading 4-0 when the bullpen exploded. First, RP Felipe Lopez allowed two runs on two hits in just 1/3 of an inning. Then, a usual trusty Stephen Taub, coughed up the lead and the win. He gave up three runs on four hits in 1 1/3.
RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 5 with a homer, triple, two runs scored and two RBI. Campbell said after the game, “It seems every season we have a big slump and lose the lead. If we don’t get this corrected soon this will probably be the last try with this team.”
GM James Walker said, “This is getting old.”
Yellow Springs wins 5-4.
Game 2- Yellow Springs crush the Tropics to take a 2-0 series lead.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 4 with another homer, a run scored and three RBI.
SP Bob McConnell was awful. McConnell pitched 3 2/3 innings surrendering five runs on six hits, walked four and struck out just one.
Yellow Springs wins 10-4.
Game 3- The slide continues as the bullpen gives up the game again.
Campbell was 2 for 3 and continues his hit streak.
DH Ernest McBride was 1 for 4 with an RBI.
SP Zak Johnson gave the Tropics a chance pitching 6 innings and giving up just a run on five hits, walked two and struck out four.
Yellow Springs wins 3-1.
Game 4- Yellow Springs completes the sweep of the Tropics.
3B Fernando Rodriguez was 2 for 3 with a solo homer.
SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani struggled through 4 2/3 innings allowing four runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out one.
Yellow Springs wins 7-1.
The Tropics return home for a three game series with the Long Beach Surfers for control of the Pacific Division.
Game 1- The Hawaii offense finally gets to Surfers SP Danya Tchekanov and SP Alaric Wullenweber struck out 14 Surfers in 7 1/3 innings to lead the Tropics the a much needed win.
Wullenweber allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. He improves to 12-5 with a 2.96 ERA.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 5 with a double, a run and an RBI.
1B Gary Allen was 3 for 4 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI.
C Ron Shiplack was 3 for 5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI.
Hawaii wins 12-2.
Game 2- The bullpen strikes again as the Surfers score seven runs on the seventh to run by the Tropics and even the series 1-1.
Jesus Gonzalez pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up just a run on eight hits, a walk and struck out six.
Stephen Taub imploded once again going one inning and surrendering five runs on three hits and two walks.
McBride was 2 for 3 with 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs scored and an RBI.
Long Beach wins 8-5.
Game 3- Tropics Starter Bob McConnel was pulled after 2 2/3 innings. He gave up six runs on eight hits and four walks.
Tropics Manager Ricardo Morales said, “McConnell is gonna get a break from starting. He will work out of the pen until he gets somethings ironed out.”
The bullpen fared no better as the Surfers score 10 runs and pound out 14 hits.
Third baseman Fernando Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Long Beach wins 10-4 and wins the series 2-1.
