Hawaii travels to Portland to play a two-game series against the Lumberjacks. Portland has a slim 5-4 series lead against Hawaii.
Game 1- The Tropics take a 3-0 lead into the 8th inning then withstand a final comeback by Portland to take the series opener. The Trops jump out to a quick 1-0 lead on a leadoff homer by Adhyapayana Mehta. Mehta (3 for 4 single, triple, HR, 2 R, 2RBI) crushed a 3-1 fastball 412 feet into left center. Hawaii scored two more runs in the 5th inning after a two-out single by Quinton Lara (1 for 3, single, run), a triple by Mehta and a single by Pedro Huerta (1 for 4 single, RBI).
Austin George got the job done with five innings of work allowing just two hits. He did walk four batters while fanning five. He improves to 5-8 with a 4.09 ERA. Juan Cerda pitched two scoreless innings issuing a walk with three Ks. Angel Hernandez loosened everyone’s plaque as he gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out a batter in 1 1/3 innings. Dominic Thompson earned his 11th save with 2/3 of an inning of work. He walked a batter in securing the win for Hawaii.
Hawaii wins 3-2.
Game 2- Hawaii scores early and scores late to get the win. Mehta was 1 for 5 with a two run double in the 4th inning. Pedro Huerta was 1 for 3 with a two-run homer in the 2nd inning. Masaki ‘Icon’ Sato was 2 for 4 with a solo homer in the 8th inning. Quintin Lara was 1 for 3 with two ribbies.
Semih Gurani pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out seven batters in the win and improves to 8-6 with a 3.84 ERA. Alberto Castaneda struggled in his appearance against the Lumberjacks allowing two runs on two hits while recording the final two outs of the 7th. Angel Hernandez pitched 2/3 of an inning walking two batters and fanning one. Jesus Rios faced two batters getting one out and allowing a hit to the other. Chih Kuang pitched a clean 9th to end the game.
Hawaii wins 8-4.
The Tropics sweep the series 2-0.
GM Jim Walker said, “We have 41 road games remaining. We must keep racking up those wins to have a chance.”
