The Hawaii Tropics return home for just a three-game series against the Sacramento Mad Popes before taking another road trip.
Game 1- Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea shut out the Mad Popes on four hits in seven innings of work. He struck out eight batters as he improves to 9-8 with a 3.10 ERA. He was followed by Bill Phillips who allowed just one hit in two innings of relief for his 5th save of the season.
2B Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 4 with a double and scored the game’s only run on a sac fly by DH Adam Backhouse in the 6th inning.
Hawaii wins 1-0.
Game 2- The Sacramento Mad Popes score five runs in the top of the 10th to even the series with Hawaii. Trops starter Elvin Hilliard pitched seven solid innings against the M’opes allowing just a run on six hits with five Ks. He was relieved by Manny Ortiz who threw 1.2 scoreless innings while giving up just a hit. The Mad Popes did their damage against Luis Perez. Perez allowed all five runs (four earned) on three hits and a couple of walks. He struck out a batter in just 2/3 innings of work as he falls to 6-4 with a 2.79 ERA.
After the game Perez said, “I just didn’t have it today. It happens.”
The Tropics managed just a run again versus Sacramento pitching on seven hits. The offense struck out seven times and drew just two walks. Adam Backhouse was 2 for 4 and scored Hawaii’s lone run on Russ McHaney’s double in the 1st inning.
Sacramento wins 6-1.
Game 3- The Mad Popes shut out Hawaii on four hits to earn the series win. The Tropics managed just two runs in the series against the Sacramento pitching staff. Adam Backhouse led Hawaii’s offense going 2 for 4. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 3 with a walk and Carlos Sanchez was 1 for 4.
Hawaii had a bullpen day to get through this game on the mound. Tomas Franco allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with two Ks in two innings of work. He falls to 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds pitched three innings allowing two runs on a hit and a walk with one K. John Moore had a good day on the mound with three scoreless innings. He walked one and gave up three hits while fanning two batters. Chih Kuang made a scoreless appearance in the 9th and allowed just a hit.
Sacramento wins 4-0.
The Mad Popes win the series 2-1.
GM Jim Walker said, “I want to throw a clock, but this team just didn’t work together right. Back to the drawing board.”
