The Tropics host the Valencia Stars in a three-game series at ‘Iolani Palace.
Game 1- Hawaii left fielder Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino hits a two-run walk off homer to avoid extras as the Trops take the series opener. Tropics reliever Angel Hernandez coughed up his 3rd lead of the season as he allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in the 8th inning. Hernandez doesn’t get the win though as he was removed and replaced by Utkan Gocek. Gocek pitched a clean 9th and improves to 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA.
Terry Hansen pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing a run on three hits and two walks with five Ks. He then watched from the dugout as Hernandez wasted his effort.
Saturnino was 3 for 4 with the game winner. He scored a run and drove in four runs on the day. Adhyapayana Mehta was 3 for 5 and scored two runs. Adam Backhouse is a run producing machine as he was 1 for 4 with another RBI. Will Patterson has made everyone forget Rhys Brickell. Patterson was 2 for 4 with a triple and scored two runs. His mentor, Thomas Kramer, was 2 for 4, scored a run and drove in a run.
Hawaii wins 6-4.
Game 2- Hawaii’s bullpen gives up lead in the 6th inning but the offense bails them out with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds pitched five scoreless innings allowing five hits while striking out two batters. Bill Ritz relieved Reynolds and earned the win after getting his 1st blown save of the season. He allowed two runs on two hits while fanning three batters in two innings. He improves to 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA. Phil Thompson earned the save with two clean innings with three Ks.
Adam Backhouse was 1 for 4 and scored a run. Pedro Huerta was 3 for 4 with a double and scored two runs. Mike Campbell was 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Hawaii wins 3-2.
Game 3- Valencia creeps back into the game with a run in the 8th and a couple of runs in the 9th but Hawaii holds on for the series sweep. The Tropics jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the 1st, but the Stars answered with two runs in the 2nd. The Trops then scored four in the 5th in two in the 6th before the Stars made their run late.
Hawaii starter Semih Gurani pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing a couple of runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out six batter and improves to 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA. Chih Kuang pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up two runs on two hits and a walk. Juan Martinez followed Kuang and allowed a run on three hits with a K in an inning.
Adhayapayana Mehtwas was 2 for 5 with a double, scored two runs and drove in a run. Mehta is hitting .364 so far this season. Ramao Saturnino was 2 for 4 with a two out solo homer in the 6th inning. Pedro Huerta was 3 for 4 with a double and a two-run homer. He scored a couple of runs with three RBI. Mike Campbell was 1 for 3 with a walk and scored a run. Frank McMillan was 1 for 4 with a three-run homer om the 5th inning. Shafiq Zahir was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo homer in the 8th. Will Patterson was 2 for 4 with a double, a triple and scored a run.
Hawaii wins 9-5.
The Tropics sweep the three-game series.
