The Tropics finish their nine-game road trip with a four-game series against the Nashville Bluebirds. Hawaii leads the season series 3-1.
Game 1- The Trops and ‘Birds play an extra inning pitching duel. Nashville sneaks past Hawaii as they walk it off in the 14th with a two-run homer by Hak-joon Yi. Both starters were tough on this day with Hawaii starter Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds pitching five innings allowing just two hits and Nashville starter Adrian Custello pitching 6 1/3 innings allowing four hits.
Reynolds walked one and struck out five batters in the no decision. He lowers his ERA below 5.00 for the first time in a while with a 4.91. Tye Whitford threw two innings of relief issuing just a walk. Angel Hernandez followed with a scoreless inning giving up a hit, a walk and struck out two batters. Dominic Thompson followed that effort with two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed a hit and struck out a batter. Juan Martinez fanned three batters in his appearance. He also allowed a hit and walked a batter in 1 2/3 innings of work. Phil Thompson was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits in the loss and falls to 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA.
Adhyapayana Mehta was 3 for 7 with a double. Rhys Brickell was 2 for 5. Al Garrett was 0 for 2 with a walk and scored an unearned run.
Nashville wins 3-1.
Game 2- The Tropics score four runs early then walk the tightrope with the bullpen. Hawaii survived to even the series 1-1. Hawaii starter Austin George pitched 5 2/3 innings giving up just three hits and issued two walks. He struck out five and earned the win to improve to 6-8 with a 3.88 ERA. Rule V pick Chih Kuang pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings allowing a hit and walked a batter while also striking out one for his 7th hold of the season. Tye Whitford was a bit too wild in the strike zone as he allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in an inning of work. He also fanned a batter. Angel Hernandez came in to get the save and threw a clean 9th inning with a K.
Pedro Huerta was 3 for 4 with a ¾ of a cycle. He tripled in the 2nd and doubled in the 8th, stole a base and scored two runs. Angelo Lucchesi was 2 for 4 with a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 4-2.
Game 3- Nashville’s offense was just too much for the Tropics pitching staff in this game as the Bluebirds get a win. Hawaii starter Semih Gurani was hammered for six runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out two batters in 2 1/3 innings of work. Gurani was tagged with the loss and falls to 9-8 with a 4.02 ERA. Alberto Castaneda saved the bullpen by getting three innings of work in issuing just one walk and struck out a batter. Juan Cerda was awful in his inning allowing three runs on three hits with two Ks. Juan Martinez threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings giving up a hit with two Ks.
Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 5 with a triple and a run scored. Rhys Brickell was also 2 for 5 with a run scored. Mike Campbell was 3 for 5 with a solo homer in the 7th inning. He scored two runs with a ribbie. Frank McMillan was 1 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI.
Nashville wins 9-5.
Game 4- The Bluebirds fly away with a series win after scoring three runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead. Hawaii reliever Angel Hernandez lost the game after allowing those three runs after walking three and striking out a batter. He falls to 4-4 with a 3.34 ERA. Phil Thompson had the blown save as he allowed two hits in 2/3 of an inning with a K.
Terry Hansen had a good start for Hawaii as he pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing just a run on six hits and a walk. He struck out three batters and left with the lead. Dominic Thompson finished the 7th inning for Hansen with a K and a 4-3 ground out.
Angelo Lucchesi was 2 for 2 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI. Thomas Kramer was 1 for 2 with a double and an RBI. Masaki ‘Icon’ Sato was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Nashville wins 4-2.
The Bluebirds win the series 3-1.
GM Jim Walker said, “Nashville is getting better, and we are getting worse. It doesn’t look good.”
