The Hawaii Tropics continue their road trip with a visit to the Twin Cities for a three game series against the River Monsters.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics and the Twin Cities River Monsters take a scoreless tie to extra innings in the series opener. The Tropics strike with four runs in the top of the eleventh inning to distance themselves from the River Monsters to get the win.
With trade rumors swirling around Ace Alaric Wullenweber he pitched a strong seven innings. He allowed just three hits and walked one batter. He struck out fourteen batters in the no decision and lowered his ERA to 2.16. Ronnie Sprinkles pitched 1 1.3 innings in relief of Wullenweber giving up just two hits while fanning two. He has had a nice season so far in the stopper role. Rookie Tye Whitford also pitched 1 1/3 giving up a walk and also struck out two batters. Scott Lucas ended the game with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to earn the win. He gave up two hits and struck out two. He improves to 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 5 with two RBI. Jorge Salas was 1 for 5 with a run and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 4-0.
Game 2- The River Monsters and Tropics play to a tie again through nine innings but the result is different with a Twin Cities win. SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani was the pitching star for the Trops. Destefani pitched 7 2/3 innings giving up four hits and walked two batters. He fanned eleven in the no decision. He drops his ERA to 4.50.
Mike Campbell was 3 for 5 with a homer two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Jorge Salas was 1 for 6.
Twin Cities wins 3-3.
Game 3- Hawaii SP Maup Manshert gave a glimpse of what he should be going seven innings giving up just four hits, He fanned eight on his way to going to 2-5 with a 4.90 ERA. Ronnie Sprinkles went an inning issuing a walk and striking out a batter. Jon Whaley pitched the ninth giving up a hit and a walk while fanning one.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 5 with a run scored, an RBI and a caught stealing. Pierangelo Ferri has had a good return to the Tropics and was 2 for 4 in this game with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Logan ‘LJ’ Niles was 1 for 4 with two RBI.
Hawaii wins 7-0 and wins the series 2-1.
The next leg of the road trip takes the Tropics to Valencia for a four game series against the Stars.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics score a run in the ninth to toe the game and send it to extras but the Valencia Stars walk it off in the bottom of the thirteenth. SP Zak ‘Hitman’ Johnson was effective going 5 2/3 innings allowing a run on six hits and a walk while striking out two.
Mike Campbell is carrying the Hawaii offense. He was 1 for 5 with a solo homer.
Valencia wins 2-1.
Game 2- The Tropics fall behind 2-1 but score a run in the eighth and ninth to squeak by the Stars. Bob McConnell keep the pitching streak going going 6 2/3 innings allowing two run son four hits and a walk. He fanned two in a no decision. After Luis Santiago came in to get an out, Ronnie Sprinkles came on for two innings of work. He surrendered a walk and struck out one to earn the win. He is 4-2 with a 1.08 ERA.
Rookie C Katsumi Matsumoto was 2 for 4 with a solo homer. Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 as the DH. He drove in two runs and scored a run.
Hawaii wins 3-2.
Game 3- The Stars jump on the Tropics early for four runs and then put up another four spot in the seventh to run away from Hawaii. SP Ernie Poole struggled going 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs on six hits while walking two. He struck out just one and falls to 0-4 with a 6.86 ERA.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Stephen Cox was 2 for 3 with a homer, a run scored and an RBI.
Valencia wins 9-3.
Game 4- The Valencia Stars get to Alaric Wullenweber to win the series from the Tropics 3-1. Wullenweber pitched seven innings giving up three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out eight. He falls to 6-5 with a 2.30 ERA.
Katsumi Matsumoto was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Lorenzo Gonzales was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Valencia wins 4-1.
