The Tropics begin their final road trip with a four-game series in Long Beach against the Surfers. The Surfers lead the season series 6-4.
Game 1- The Tropics take a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th and barely survive a Surfers comeback to take the series opener by a run. Hawaii reliever Tye Whitford surrendered three runs to Long Beach in 1 2/3 innings before he was pulled. He allowed just a hit and walked three batters. Utkan Gocek locked down the save by getting the final out.
Michael Kalil made the start for Hawaii and pitched 5 2/3 solid innings. He gave up a run on four hits and a walk. He struck out four batters and earned the win to improve to 6-7 with a 4.20 ERA. Phil Thompson relieved Kalil and shutout the Surfers for 1 1/3 innings. He gave up two hits and struck out a batter before Whitford almost coughed it up.
Pedro Huerta was 2 for 4 with a solo homer and scored two runs. Thomas Kramer was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Backup catcher Katsumi Matsumoto was 1 for 4 with an RBI. Will Patterson was 1 for 1 with a double, scored a run and drove in one.
Hawaii wins 5-4.
Game 2- The Tropics score a run in the top of the 9th on a double by Al Garrett that scored Will Patterson from first. Hawaii reliever Angel Hernandez shut down the Surfers in the bottom of the 9th and earned the win to improve to 5-5 with a 3.53 ERA.
Hawaii’s Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing three runs on six hits and a couple of walk while striking out a batter. Jason Wellon pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief giving up a hit and issued a walk. Juan Cerda gave up two unearned runs and blew his 6th save. He pitched 2 1/3 innings giving up a hit, walked one and fanned two.
Adhyapayana Mehta was 1 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI and committed an error. Mike Campbell was 1 for 5 with a two-run homer in the 1st inning. Tommy Kramer was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
Game 3- Long Beach starter Jorge ‘Rival’ Moreno dominated Hawaii hitters throwing a complete game one-hit shutout. Hawaii rookie Mitch Wareham was 1 for 3.
Austin George took the beating for Hawaii as he gave up seven runs on nine hits and a couple of walks. He struck out three batters in 5 1/3 innings. He falls to 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA. Rookie Bill Ritz cracked as he gave up two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out a batter in two innings.
Long Beach wins 9-0.
Game 4- The Tropics fall behind 3-0 early but score four runs in the 5th and two insurance runs in the 9th to get the win and take the series. Semih Gurani gave up three runs in the first inning but settled in and finished six innings. He gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck out four batters in the win and evens his record at 12-12 with a 4.74 ERA. Angel Hernandez pitched two great innings, giving up a hit and fanning three for his 14th hold. Dominic Thompson picked up his 13th save with a scoreless inning.
Adhyapayana Mehta was a hitting machine going 4 for 5 with a double and scored a run. Mike Campbell was 1 for 4 with a three-run blast in the 5th. Will Patterson was 1 for 2 with a two-run shot in the 9th. Pedro Huerta was 1 for 4 with a solo homer in the 5th.
Hawaii wins 6-3.
Hawaii wins the series 3-1.
GM Jim Walker said, “Great series. We almost got no hit but it was exciting to watch.”
