The Hawaii Tropics play their final two home games against the Valencia Stars. The Stars have dominated the Tropics this season with a 10-2 record.
Game 1 – The Tropics get a big five run 2nd inning and blow past the Stars to get a win in the series opener. The Trops started the rally in the 2nd with consecutive singles by Pedro Huerta and Frank McMillan. Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino then doubled to drive in Huerta and McMillan to put the Ttopics on the board. Angelo Lucchesi drew a walk and then rookie Mitch Wareham took one for the team to load the bases. Thomas Kramer was at the plate when Stars pitcher Eddie Armstrong uncorked a wild pitch that scored Saturnino to make it 3-1. Kramer then hit sac fly to make it 4-1. Karunamaya Makarand hit a sac fly of his own to close out the scoring in the 2nd at 5.
Makarand was 1 for 3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 4 with a double and two ribbies. Ramao Saturnino was 2 for 4 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI. Lucchesi was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Wareham was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and Tommy Kramer was 1 for 3 with a two-run homer in the 6th, two runs scored and three ribbies.
Semih Gurani was effective in his start with six strong innings. He allowed a couple of runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out six batters in the win as he improves t9 11-12 with a 4.75 ERA. September call-up Tomas Franco allowed a couple of runs on a hit and three walks. He struck out two in an inning pitched. Chih Kuang threw two scoreless innings and gave up just a hit, a walk while fanning a batter.
Hawaii wins 9-4.
Game 2- The Tropics score three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to tie the game at 4-4. The game remained tied until the bottom of the 13th inning when Pedro Huerta hit a homer to send Tropics fans home happy for the final time in 2053.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 6 with a solo homer in the 4th inning. Pedro Huerta was 1 for 6 with the game-winning solo homer. Wareham was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 3 with a double, a run scored and two RBI.
Juan Martinez made the final home start for Hawaii. He pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits and a walk. He fanned seven batters in a no decision. Alberto Castaneda pitched two innings allowing a run on a walk and he had a K. Dominic Thompson pitched 1 1/3 innings allowed a run on two hits and a walk. Juan Cerda pitched two scoreless innings. He issued a walk and fanned two batters. Angel Hernandez followed that effort with two scoreless innings. He allowed just a hit, walked one and struck out three batters. Bill Ritz earned his 1st BBA win with an inning of work in extras. He gave up a hit as he is now 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.
Hawaii wins 5-4.
Hawaii sweeps the two-game series.
GM Jim Walker said, “We back to .500 after that disaster in August. We need to finish strong.”
