The Tropics begin the ‘second half’ of the season with an 11-game home stand. They kick it off with a four-game series against the Chicago Black Sox. The Black Sox and Tropics are tied 2-2 in the season series.
Game 1- The Tropics jump out to an early 2-0 lead on a Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino two-run homer in the 1st inning. The Black Sox battle back with a run in the 5th inning and two more in the 7th to take a 3-2 lead. Then Hawaii takes the lead for good on another two-run homer. Mike Campbell brought the home crowd to their feet with the go ahead two-run blast.
Adhyapayana Mehta was a pest on base as he was 3 for 5 with a triple and two runs scored. ‘Massacre’ Saturnino was 1 for 3 with that first inning homer. Campbell was 1 for 4 with the go ahead blast.
Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds made the start for Hawaii pitching 4 1/3 innings allowing a run on five hits and a walk. He struck out one batter in the no decision. Alberto Castaneda stumbled in two innings allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Juan Cerda relieved the struggling Castaneda and pitched 2/3 of an inning with a K. Angel Hernandez earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings allowing just a hit. He improves to 3-2 with a 2.49 ERA.
Hawaii wins 4-3.
Game 2- The Tropics trailed the Black Sox 5-4 going into the bottom of the 8th when the Hawaii offense erupted. The Trops sent 11 batters to the plate scoring 7 runs to take the lead. SS Thomas Kramer had the big hit with a Grand Slam. The Trops also had two doubles and three triples in the game.
Kramer was 2 for 2 with a walk, a double and the salami. He scored two runs and drove in five. Pedro Huerta was 1 for 4 with a bases clearing triple and a sac fly. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 3 with a walk, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI. Ramao Saturnino was 1 for 4 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored.
Austin George plowed through five innings allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out five batters. Chih Kuang allowed a run on two hits with three Ks in 1 2/3 innings. Angel Hernandez earned his 2nd win of the series with two clean innings and three Ks. He is now 4-2 with a 2.39 ERA.
Hawaii wins 11-5.
Game 3- The Black Sox finally get a win off the Tropics in this series. Chicago scores a run in the top of the 9th to steal the game from Hawaii. Hawaii fell behind 3-0 before fighting back to tie the game at 3.
Semih Gurani threw five inning for Hawaii allowing three runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out seven batters. He was relieved by Juan Cerda and watched Cerda throw two clean innings from the bench. Cerda fanned three batters. Dominic Thompson took the loss again as he gave up the eventual winning run after 1 2/3 innings. He allowed a hit and struck out three batters. He fasll to 3-4 with a 3.69 ERA.
Thomas Kramer was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Katsumi Matsumoto was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Rhys Brickell was 1 for 1 with four walks and a run scored.
Chicago wins 4-3.
Game 4- The Tropics get a total team effort to earn the series win against the Blacks Sox. Hawaii pitchers combined to limit Black Sox hitters to 3 runs on 7 hits while Tropics hitters took advantage of an error to score 7 runs on 12 hits.
Hawaii starter Terry Hansen threw six innings allowing three runs on four hits and a couple of walks. He fanned five batters and improves to 9-6 with a 4.49 ERA. Juan Martinez followed that effort with an inning of work giving up just a hit and striking out two batters for his 4th hold of the season. Angel Hernandez made another appearance and set down two batters while giving up a hit and a walk. He struck out a batter and earned his 6th hold. Dominic Thompson finished the game off pitching 1 1/3 innings allowing just a hit. He now has 11 saves on the season with a 3.57 ERA.
Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Pedro Huerta finished out a nice series with a 2 for 3 day. He had a solo homer and a walk to score two runs and drive in two. Masaki ‘Icon’ Sato was 2 for 3 with a double, a solo homer, a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. Angelo Lucchesi was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 7-3.
The Tropics win the series 3-1.
GM Jim Walker said, “That’s a good way to start off post All Star Game.”
