The Tropics return to ‘Iolani Palace to play a four-game series against the Des Moines Kernels. The Kernels lead the season series 4-0.
Game 1- Kernels pitching holds the Tropics to 3 runs on 4 hits and they take the series opener. The Hawaii offense was Masaki ‘Icon’ Sato and Thomas Kramer. Sato was 1 for 4 with a double and two ribbies and Kramer was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
The Kernels took advantage of some bad pitches by Michael Kalil. He allowed five runs on six hits and a walk with three Ks in 4 2/3 innings. Kalil was tagged with the loss and fall to 4-5 with a 4.34 ERA.
The bullpen gave Hawaii a chance to come back with 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Alberto Castaneda tossed 1 1/3 innings allowing three hits, walked a batters and fanned two. Juan Cerda pitched an inning giving up a hit with a K. Angel Hernandez contributed 1 1/3 innings with a K and finally, Dominic Thompson threw 2/3 of an inning and struck out a batter.
Des Moines wins 5-2.
Game 2- The Kernels come back from down 6-4 to tie the game and take it to extras. In the 10th, the Kernels out score the Trops 3-1 to go up 2-0 in the series. Phil Thompson gave up a run and blew the save in the top of the 9th. He pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing the one run on a hit and two walks. Tye Whitford took the loss after he was tagged with three runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out one in 2/3 of an inning and falls to 3-3 4.92 ERA.
Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds made the start for Hawaii pitching 4 1/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits with no walks and three Ks.
Masaki Sato was 2 for 5 with a double and a solo homer. He scored a run and drove in two. Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino was 2 for 4 with a walk and solo homer in the bottom of the 10th. He scored three runs and drove in a run. Pedro Huerta was 2 for 4 with a two run homer, a run scored and four RBI.
Des Moines wins 9-7.
Game 3- The Des Moines Kernels pop the Trops scoring 12 runs on 13 hits and draw 11 walks as they go up 3-0 in the series. Tropics starter Austin George gave up four runs on six hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five batters and falls to 6-9 with a 4.02 ERA. Alberto Castaneda pitched an inning and allowed two runs and fanned three batters. Dominic Thompson pitched just 2/3 of an inning and gave up four runs on a hit and three walks.
Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Pedro Huerta was 1 for 3 with a walk and Mike Campbell was 1 for 3 with a walk. Thomas Kramer was 0 for 2 with two walks and a run scored.
Des Moines wins 12-1.
Game 4- The Kernels complete the series sweep with another strong pitching performance. Hawaii managed a run on seven hits and drew five walks. Thomas Kramer was 1 for 4 with an RBI while Al Garrett was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Semih Gurani had no answers for the Des Moines lineup as he allowed six runs on nine hits and a couple of walks. He struck out four in 5 1/3 innings. Juan Cerda pitched 1 1/3 scoring innings giving up two hits and striking out two. Jesus Rios ate some innings as he threw 26 pitches in 2 1/3 innings. He allowed just one hit.
Des Moines wins 6-1.
The Kernels sweep the four-game series.
GM Jim Walker said, “They did a ‘Madison’ on us. They were 8-0 against is this season.”
