The Tropics play a four-game series in Louisville against the Sluggers as the 2053 BBA season reaches the All-Star break. The season series is tied 2-2.
Game 1- The Sluggers shut out the Tropics on three hits to take the series opener. Louisville starter Yoshii Takuda one hit Hawaii for eight innings to get the win.
Hawaii countered with Austin George to begin the series. George pitched well going 5 1/3 innings. He allowed no runs on three hits and three walks. He fanned four batters in the no decision. Angel Hernandez put some zeroes on the board with 1 2/3 clean innings but the Sluggers touched up Dominic Thompson for two runs on a hit and a walk. He took the loss and falls to 3-3 with a 3.82 ERA.
Hawaii hitters managed just three hits. Adhyapayana Mehta (1 for 4), Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino (1 for 4) and Masaki ‘Icon’ Sato (1 for 3, double) were the only Tropics offense.
Louisville wins 3-0.
Game 2- The Hawaii offense blast three homers and have five total extra base hits as they even the series 1-1. Pedro Huerta helped power the Trops going 2 for 4 with a solo homer, two runs scored and an RBI. Masaki Sato was 2 for 4 with a solo shot in the 4th and Ramao Saturnino added a two-run blast in the 7th. Shafiq Zahir was 2 for 3 with a double and a ribbie. Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 5 with a triple and a run scored.
Semih Gurani pitched six innings for Hawaii to earn the win. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while fanning five batters. He improves to 7-5 with a 3.61 ERA. Juan Martinez earned his 3rd hold of the season with a scoreless inning of work. He gave up a hit and struck out one. Dominic Thompson’s struggles continue as he gave up an unearned run on two hits with two Ks. Alberto Castaneda pitched 1 1/3 innings issuing a walk and striking out two batters as he earned his 4th save of the season.
Hawaii wins 5-3.
Game 3- Hawaii falls behind the Sluggers 2-0 but come back with two runs in the 5th and two more in the 6th to take the lead. Pedro Huerta seems to have the hot bat now going 2 for 4 with a two-run homer. He also stole a base, scored two runs, and drove in two. Rhys Brickell was 3 for 4 with a solo homer in the 9th. He scored two runs and drove one.
Terry Hansen pitched five innings allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks. He struck out four and improves to 8-6 with a 4.48 ERA. Juan Cerda pitched two innings giving up just two hits with two Ks. Angel Hernandez pitched two clean innings with a K and earned his 3rd save.
Hawaii wins 5-2.
Game 4- The Sluggers start the game hot scoring three runs in the 1st and three in the 2nd but the Tropics score seven unanswered runs to get the series win. Michael Kalil struggled out the gate for Hawaii but he stayed in the game and pitched 4 2/3 innings. He allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk. He fanned eight batters in a well-earned no decision. Chih Kuang pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn hits 1st win. He walked a batter and struck out one. Domonic Thompson looked better with a clean 1 1/3 innings. He struck out one batter in earning his 9th hold. Juan Martinez matched that effort by Thompson to get his 1st save.
Pedro Huerta was 3 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Rhys Brickell was 2 for 4 with a three-run homer in the 4th inning. Quinton Lara was 3 for 3 with two double, two runs scored and two RBI.
Hawaii wins 7-6.
Hawaii wins the series 3-1.
GM Jim Walker said, “This series could’ve gone either way but these guys perservered.”
