The Hawaii Tropics have won seven consecutive games and ten out of the last twelve. They host the Sacramento Mad Popes in a three-game series to finish out the homestand.
Game 1- The Tropics inch ever closer to the .500 mark as they extend their winning streak to eight games with a win over the Mad Popes. Hawaii starter Elvin Hilliard teamed with reliever Utkan Gocek to allow the Mad Popes two runs on nine hits. Hilliard pitched 7.1 innings allowing one run on five hits with seven Ks. Gocek blew the save but vulyured the win as he allowed a run on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. He struck out two as he improved to 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA.
LF Vicente Mendez was 2 for 4 with a couple of doubles and scored a run. RF Russ McHaney was 1 for 3 with a single, a walk and scored two runs. CF Carlos Sanchez was 1 for 3 with a triple, a walk and two RBI. 1B Mitch Wareham was 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Hawaii wins 3-2.
Game 2- Hawaii’s pitching began the game strong with Phil Thompson gicing the Tropics three scoreless innings. He threw just 48 pitches and gave up three hits, a walk and struck out three batters. Then, the wheels fell off after the bullpen took over. First, Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds gave up three runs on three hits and two walks in three innings of work. That was followed by four runs on four hits given up by Chih Kuang. Kuang got just one out as he takes the loss and falls to 3-2 with a 4.58 ERA.
The Hawaii offense made a late charge in the 8th and 9th innings but fell a run short. Mitch Wareham led the way going 2 for 4 with a double, triple, scored a run and drove in two runs. Esteban Flores gave Thomas Kramer a well-deserved day off and was 1 for 4 with a two-run triple. Vicente Mendez was 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI while Adam Backhouse was 1 for 5 with a solo homer in the 9th to get Hawaii within a run.
Sacramento wins 8-7.
Game 3- The Mad Popes offense erupts for 11 runs on 20 hits while Hawaii’s offense scored 2 runs on 7 hits and struck out 13 times. The M’opes win the rubber game and get the series win.
Hawaii starter Semih Gurani pitched three innings allowing five runs on ten hits with a K and took the loss to fall to 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA. The bullpen pitched six innings allowing six more runs on ten more hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
C Frank McMillan was 2 for 4 and popped a solo homer in the 2nd inning. Mitch Wareham was 1 for 4 with a solo homer also in the 2nd inning.
Sacramento wins 11-2.
The Mad Popes wins the series 2-1.
Hawaii Manager Rich Kerr said, “This is a small setback in the big picture. These guys have responded this month and improved.”
Hawaii GM Jim Walker said, “We played two out the three well. They came out swinging against Gurani and just dominated from there.”
