The Tropics next stop is Louisville for a four-game series against the Sluggers at Kentucky Truck Plant Stadium. The Trops are 3-1 against the Sluggers this season but Louisville has dominated the all-time series 83-65.
The Trops offense struggles to get any traction against Louisville pitchers as the Sluggers take the series opener. Hawaii DH Felipe Hernandez provided half Hawaii’s hits going 3 for 4 with two singles and a solo homer (12). RF Carlos Sanchez added a solo blast in the 6th for the Trops second and final run of the game.
Hawaii starter Manny Ortiz scuffled through 4.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out four as he falls to 6-6 with a 3.63 ERA. Bill Williams pitched two scoreless innings giving up just a hit with two Ks.
Louisville wins 4-2.
The bottom of the Tropics order powered the Hawaii offense as they bounce back and even the series 1-1. LF Vicente Mendez had three singles, scored two runs and drove in one. C Katsumi Matsumoto doubled (7) in a run in the 6th and hit a solo homer (3) in the 3rd to provide the thunder. SS Quintin Trewartha is fresh off of injury rehab and was 1 for 3 with a two-run double (9) in the 4th inning.
Semih Gurani was not as sharp in this start as he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out five in the no decision. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds earned the win with 1.2 innings of work. He gave up a solo homer and two total hits with three Ks. He improves to 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. The bullpen pitched three scoreless innings the rest of the way to secure the win.
Hawaii wins 6-4.
The Trops score seven runs through five innings then cruise to a 7-3 win to take a 2-1 series lead. Starter Elvin Hilliard was fantastic for seven innings allowing eight hits with two of them solo homers for the only runs he gave up. He walked one and fanned six as he improves to 9-5 with a 4.18 ERA.
RF Russ McHaney is feeling it now as he bashed two homers (9) in this game. He hit a three-run shot in the 1st inning then a solo homer in the 5th. C Frank McMillan was 2 for 4 and hit his 11th homer in the 4th. Felipe Hernandez was 2 for 3 with two walks, scored a run and drove in one.
Hawaii wins 7-3.
The Hawaii bullpen coughs one up as the Sluggers walk it off on a three-run dinger to escape with a series split. Trops reliever Bill Phillips threw a middle- middle first pitch fastball that Gary Grant deposited in the cheap seats in right center 445 feet from home plate. It knocked the beers out of the hands of no less than six drunken Sluggers fans wasting beer as the Trops wasted a win.
Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea struggled but left with a lead after five innings. He allowed four runs on five hits and a walk with five Ks. Phillips took the loss and falls to 1-1.
Angelo Lucchesi ws 2 for 5 with a two-run triple (5) in the 3rd inning. Vicente Mendez was 1 for 4 with two RBI and scored a run. Mitch Wareham was 1 for 3 with a couple of walks, scored two runs and drove in a run.
Louisville wins 8-6.
The Trops and Sluggers split the four-game series.
Pacific Division Standings as of June 28, 2058
Frick League Wildcard Standings
