Hawaii finishes up their homestand with a four-game series against the Louisville Sluggers at ‘Iolani Palace. The Trops sit atop the Pacific Division for the 1st time in quite a while with a 28-18 record. They are followed by Sacramento a game back at 27-19 and Long Beach 3 games back at 25-21. Vancouver and San Fernando are tied at 24-22 and 4 games back of first. Bikini has fallen off the pace at 22-24 6 games back while Valencia is at 20-26 and 8 games back. Portland has put some wins together and are now 15-31 13 games back of Hawaii.
Hawaii opens the series against the Sluggers scoring 13 runs on 17 hits to get the win. Trops slugging 1B Luis Estrada continues to feast on Heartland pitching as he hit two more bombs. He had a solo homer (11) in the 2nd inning and a two-run laser (12) in the 5th inning. He also singled two times, scored twice, and drove in four runs to win Player of the Game honors. His tag team partner in the lineup has been C Frank McMillan who crushed a three-run homer (6) in the 5th inning and also drove in four runs on the day. DH Felipe Hernandez flashed his power with a three-run homer in the 8th inning.
On the mound, Gerardo Rea started for Hawaii and pitched 4.2 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks while fanning five. Chih Kuang earned the win in relief pitching two innings allowing a solo homer and struck out three as he improves to 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA.
Hawaii wins 13-3.
The Trops offense hits four homer off Slugger pitching as they go up 2-0 in the series. Gerald Mitchell and Mitch Wareham each hit solo homers in the 3rd inning and Felipe Hernandez and Luis Estrada hit solo homers in the 4th inning as the Tropics pull away. But the Player of the Game was Hawaii starter Utbah ‘Crawdad Me’ bin Muta with 5.2 innings of one run baseball. He gave up that run on six hits, walked nine and struck out two as he improves to 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA. Luis Perez earned the save with 2.1 scoreless innings and two Ks.
Hawaii wins 7-1.
The Tropics score five runs in the 4th inning and score 9 total as they continue to batter Louisville pitching. Frank McMillan had the biggest hit of the day with a Grand Slam in the 4th inning to cap off the five-run outburst. CF Carlos Sanchez hit a solo homer (6) in the 2nd inning while going 2 for 4 and scoreing two runs. Starter Manny Ortiz did just enough to earn the win as he allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out one as he improves to 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA. Chih Kuang earned the easy one out save.
Hawaii wins 9-4.
The Sluggers score two runs in the top of the 9th off reliever Utkan Gocek then sweat out a Hawaii comeback attempt to salvage a win in the series. Gocek gave up a single then a two-run blast to take the loss and fall to 0-2 and was tagged with his 2nd blown save. It also ruined another great start by Semih Gurani. Gurani gave up just one hit in five innings of work with a walk and six Ks in the no decision. Luis Estrada was 1 for 3 and drove in Adhyapayana Mehta from second for Hawaii’s lone run.
Louisville wins 2-1.
Hawaii wins the series 3-1.
Hawaii has extended their lead over Sacramento to two games as the Trops are a 31-19 and Mad Popes at 29-21. Long Beach has charged back and are 3 back at 28-22. The Mounties and Bears remain tied at 26-24 and 5 games back while Bikini is holding off Valencia. Portland is trying to hang around at 16-34.
“I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop. It happens and I hate waiting for it.”, lamented Hawaii GM Jim Walker.[/size]
