The Hawaii Tropics return home for a three game series against the resurgence Valencia Stars in a Pacific Division matchup.
Game 1- The Stars score two runs in the eighth to take a lead 4-3 over Hawaii and hold on for the win.
The Tropics had a good start from Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani. Destefani allows two runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out six in seven innings of work and left the game with the lead.
Hawaii RF Mike Campbell was 2 for 4 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI.
Valencia wins 4-3.
Game 2- The Tropics jump out to a 6-1 lead early but cant hold on. The Stars score six runs to take a one run lead in the sixth inning then shut down the Hawaii offense to steal another win out from under the Tropics.
Hawaii SP Jesus Gonzalez was cruising along looking for a win but was chased with an out in the top of teh sixth. In 5 1/3 innings of work he gave up four runs (one unearned) on five hits, a walk and struck out six.
3B Hector Ojeda was 1 for 4 with a solo homer, his 20th of the season.
LF Bastiao Fardos was 1 for 4 with a three run homer.
1B Gary Allen was 2 for 5 with a solo homer.
Valencia wins 7-6.
Game 3- The Valencia Stars batter the Tropics and sweep the three game series.
Hawaii SP Zak ‘Hitman’ Johnson continues to steal the tropics money with bad start after bad start. He pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing six runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out seven. He falls to 4-5 with a 6.98 ERA.
DH Ernest McBride was 2 for 4 with a two run homer.
Valencia wins 9-4.
The Tropics remain at home for a three game series agains the Portland Lumberjacks.
Game 1- The Tropics tie the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two out run scoring single off the bat of Gary Allen scoring Bronx ‘Little Bron’ Cortez from second. Then, in the bottom of the tenth, the Tropics get an infield single by Mike Campbell. Ernest McBride hits a double on a 1-0 pitch moving Campbell to third. After an intentional walk to Bastiao Fardos to load the bases, the Lumberjacks RP Pedro Rocha strikes out Hector Ojeda. The Lumberjacks then bring in RP Flynn ‘Banshee’ Venegas to try to prevent the inevitable. Venegas then walked Bronx Cortez on four straight pitches to give the Tropics a walk off win in extras.
The Tropics use a bullpen day to get through the opener against the Lumberjacks. They combine to allow three runs on four hits, walk NINE and strike out 10 batters.
Ojeda was 1 for 3 with a double, two walks and two RBI.
Hawaii wins 4-3.
Game 2- The Tropics use a Gary Allen Grand Slam to subdue the Lumberjacks.
Allen was 2 for 4 with a run and four RBI.
Nicky Destefani pitched five innings allowing just a run on three hits and a walk.
Ernie Poole received some work out of the bullpen going two innings allowing a run on two hits and a walk. He struck out one and earned his third win of the season.
Hawaii wins 7-2.
Game 3- The Tropics and Lumberjacks exchange the lead five times before Hawaii comes out on top to sweep the series.
SS Logan ‘LJ’ Niles was 3 for 4 with three RBI and a stolen base.
Bastiao Fardos was 2 for 3 with three runs scored, an RBI, two stolen bases and threw out a runner at the plate.
Jesus Gonzalez pitched four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out six in a no decision.
RP Felipe Lopez pitched an inning giving up a hit an a walk to earn the win.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
