The Tropics finish their 12-game home stand 2-10 and hit the road for four games in two cities. It begins with a two-game series against the Portland Lumberjacks then ends in Valencia with another two-game series.
Game 1- The Lumberjacks commit three errors but survive the miscues in extras as the Trops continue their misery. Hawaii Manager Rich Kerr said, “We’ve left a ton of free baserunners stranded on base. If we could score just a couple of them today, we could’ve won this game.”
The Tropics offense did put 4 runs on the board led by DH Russ McHaney. McHaney is working off some rust after missing the first three months of the season with a partially torn labrum. He was 2 for 5 and drove in two runs. 2B Karunamaya Makarand was 2 for 5 with a double (3) and scored two runs.
Bill Williams made the start for the Trops going four innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one in the no decision. Utkan Gocek bounced back from some rough outings recently to throw two shutout innings. He allowed just a hit, walked one and struck out two. Juan Martinez also made some improvement with 1.1 scoreless innings. Chih Kuang took the loss in extras allowing the game winner to fall to 1-1 with a 1.63 ERA.
Portland wins 5-4.
Game 2- Hawaii’s anemic offense scores just a run in another loss as the Lumberjacks sweep the series. The Trops lone run was an 8th inning double by LF Vicente Mendez that plated rookie 3B Felipe Hernandez. Hernandez was 2 for 3 with a double (2) and Mendez was 1 for 3.
Manny Ortiz took the ball to open the game for Hawaii and allowed three runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. He fanned five batters but also gave up two homers in the loss as he falls to 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA.
Portland wins 6-1.
The Lumberjacks sweep the two-game series.
Hawaii limps into Valencia to finish the short road trip with a two-game series with the Stars.
Game 1- Hawaii’s offense responded after hearing the negative criticism in the media scoring six runs against the Stars. The Trops jumped out quickly with two runs in the 1st and three in the 2nd to get the early lead. 1B Tomas Borges was 1 for 4 with a three-run triple (4) in the 2nd inning.
“That hit got the team into the game.”, said Kerr.
Felipe Hernandez was 2 for 3 with a double (3), a walk, an RBI and scored a run. The rookie is hitting .244 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Victor Mendez was 1 for 4 with a walk and scored two runs.
On the mound, Hawaii started Gerardo Rea who pitched 4.2 innings allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out five batters in the no decision.
Rea complained after the game, “I hate the way they are using me. I want to be traded.”
GM Jim Walker was shown the clip then he said, “He’ll get over it. Maybe he should pitch better.”
Bill Ritz earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits as he improves to 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Juan Martinez earned his 5th hold with 1.2 scoreless innings. He walked a batter and fanned two. Luis Perez was good this time out with a clean 9th inning for his 6th save.
Hawaii wins 6-3.
Game 2- The Hawaii offense exploded for 15 runs on 17 hits to get a rare series win. They capped off the game with a 7-run 9th inning. Every starter had at least one hit with Rich McHaney leading the way going 3 for 6. McHaney doubled (2) scored a run and drove in two. Borges had the big RBI day with five ribbies after going 1 for 4. He hit a three-run homer (18) in the 9th. LF Shafiq Zahir showed some flashes of his 2055 season going 2 for 5 with two homers (2), scored three runs and drove in four.
Hawaii starter Elvin Hilliard was the beneficiary of this offensive outburst. He pitched well with a lead going six innings allowing two runs on three hits and a couple of walks. He struck out four batters as he improves to 6-6 with a 4.23 ERA. Phil Thompson relieved Hilliard and pitched 2.1 scoreless. He allowed two hits and struck out two batters.
Hawaii wins 15-2.
The Tropics sweep the two-game series.
