The Tropics make a quick stop in Long Beach for a two-game series against the Surfers.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics shock the Long Beach Surfers in the top of the 9th with four runs capped off by a Tomas Borges two-run homer. Mitch Wareham doubled in a run and Frank McMillan singled to drive in a run. Carlos Sanchez singled and scored on the Borges blast.
Bill Ritz made the start for Hawaii as it appears that Trops Manager Rich Kerr is trying to spark this pitching staff. Ritz threw 52 pitches and made it through 4.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits with a K. John Moore has better than his last game as he pitched 2.2 scoreless innings. He allowed just a hit, walked two and fanned two. Bill Williams was sharp with two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out one as he improves to 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.
Hawaii wins 4-2.
Game 2- The Long Beach Surfers walk it off against the Tropics to earn a series split. Hawaii reliever Utkan Gocek has started the season slow again. He started slow last season but finished strong. He costed his team another win with his 2nd blown save and 2nd loss. He gave up the game winning homer on his 4th pitch of the game.
Utbah ‘Crawdad Me’ bin Muta made the start and pitched 4.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits and a walk. Semih Gurani followed that with 1.2 scoreless innings allowing just a hit with a K. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds pitched 1.2 innings giving up two hits with a walk and a K.
Tomas Borges hit another homer off Surfer’s pitching as he was 2 for 3 with two RBI and scored a run. Bob Chastain has replaced the injured Russ McHaney. He was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and scored a run. Angelo Lucchesi was 3 for 4 with a double and a ribbie.
Long Beach wins 5-4.
The Surfers and Tropics split the two-game series.
