The winless Hawaii Tropics travel to Chicago for a four game series against the Chicago Black Sox.
Game 1- Black Sox pitching holds the punchless Tropics offense to a run on four hits and keep Hawaii winless for another day. Rookie Shafiq Zahir was 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored while Tomas Guillen plated him with a sac fly. Guillen was 0 for 2 on the day.
Another rookie, Michael Kalil, made his first Brewster start going 4 1/3 innings giving up five runs on seven hits while walking two batters and fanning three. He falls to 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA to open his career.
Atmo ‘Mole’ Ananas gave Hawaii 1 1/3 innings for solid work allowing just three hits before handing the ball to Sumitomo Takahashi. Takahashi pitched 2 1/3 clean innings with two Ks.
Chicago wins 5-1.
Game 2- The Tropics continue to give up big innings and cannot dig themselves out of the hole. The lose this one after Chicago takes control of the game after a five run third inning against Hawaii starter Austin George.
George took the loss after pitching 2 1/3 innings giving up seven runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two batters. He falls to 0-1 with a disgusting 27.00 ERA. Alberto Castaneda worked for an inning allowing a hit and two walks while fanning a batter. Jason Wellon pitched 1 1/3 solid innings giving up just a hit, walked two and struck out a batter. Tye Whitford earned his money with 1 2/3 innings of work giving up a hit and fanning two batters.
Adhyapayana Mehta was 1 for 5 with an RBI. Angelo Lucchesi was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Rhys Brickell was 2 for 4 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI, a stolen base and was caught stealing.
Chicago wins 9-5.
Game 3- The Hawaii Tropics finally get a win on the ledger with the assist by Karunamaya Makarand. Makarand was 3 for 5 with a double and two homers to lead the way. He scored three runs and drove in six for the Trops. Rhys Brickell was 02 for 2 but walked three times and scored twice.Alejandro Ortiz was 2 for 4 with a solo homer, a run scored and two RBI. Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturino was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI.
Tomas Franco wasn’t great but did enough in his start for Hawaii to get the win. He pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits and an eye popping five walks. He struck out a batter and improves to 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA. Ronnie Sprinkles took the ball in relief and dripped on he Black Sox parade. He pitched 1 2/3 innings diving up just a hit while fanning three batters.
Hawaii wins 9-4.
Game 4- The Tropics come back from down 6-3 to take the lead before giving up a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras. The Black Sox scored a run in the bottom of the thirteenth inning to walk it off and win the four game series 3-1.
SP Semih Gurani had another horrible start allowing six runs on nine hits and a couple of walks. He struck out a batter in four innings of work in a no decision. Alberto Castaneda pitched two clean innings to help Hawaii get back into the game.
Hawaii wasted some good hitting by Alejandro Ortiz and Angelo Lucchesi that helped propel the Tropics comeback. Ortiz was 4 for 6 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI while Lucchesi was 4 for 6 with a double, a triple, a run scored and two RBI. Thomas Kramer was 2 for 6 with two RBI. Ramao Saturnino was 2 for 6 with a solo homer and a walk. He scored two runs and drove in one.
Chicago wins 8-7.
Sounds of the series: Hawaii Manager Ernesto Garcia to Hawaii Pitching Coach Tony Torres, “Cambio ese pendejo Gurani!”
Chicago wins the series 3-1.
