The Hawaii Tropics begin their post All-Star schedule on the road with a four-game series against the Omaha Cyclones. Omaha leads the all-time series 90-85 while the season series is tied 2-2.
The Cyclones and Tropics play a marathon extra inning game lasting late into the night until Omaha walks it off in the 16th inning with an RBI single. The game was tied 1-1 after the Trops tied it in the 8th on a Mitch Wareham RBI double (15) that scored Julian Rivera from second. Rivera was 2 for 6 with a double (16).
The Tropics used 8 pitchers to get through this one and will have to juggle relievers to get through this series. Elvin Hilliard ended his streak of bad starts with six solid innings against the Cyclones lineup. He allowed a run on five hits and a couple of walks while fanning seven batters. Utkan Gocek took the loss after allowing a run on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. He falls to 1-3 with a 3.32 ERA.
Omaha wins 2-1.
The Cyclones out homer the Tropics 3-2 and win Game 2 of the series. Russ McHaney hit a two-run homer (16) in the 1st to put the Trops up early then Frank McMillan hit a two-run blast (14) of his own in the 4th to put Hawaii up 5-2. But that would be all for the Trops as the Cyclones had homers from Stephen ‘Kiddo’ Futon, Wilson Estrada and George McCoy.
Hawaii starter Gerardo Rea took a beating allowing all three homers and seven runs total. Those runs were generated on seven hits and a walk in 5.1 innings as Rea falls to 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA.
Omaha wins 7-5.
The Cyclones and Tropics play another long (ish) extra inning game as Omaha prevails again in the 13th. The won this one on a bases jammed hit by pitch with Gocek loading the bases and John Moore plunking Wilson Estrada. Gocek loses for the 2nd time this series and is now 1-4 with a 3.43 ERA.
Hawaii CF Carlos Sanchez drove in two runs with a single in the 1st and a solo homer in the 3rd. 2B Adhyapayana Mehta has had a season to forget but drove in two runs in the 1st with a double (20).
Omaha wins 7-6.
The Cyclones get a big, four run 6th inning to get the lead then hold off a furious 9th inning rally by Hawaii to complete the series sweep. The Omaha lineup finally did some damage to Trops starter Manny Ortiz after letting him off the hook in the 2nd inning. They tagged him for two runs in the 6th to chase him from the game. Then, they pounced on reliever Juan Martinez for two more runs.
Omaha Manager Julian ‘Bane’ Negrete left starter Takashi Nakamura in the game to face Hawaii’s power hitters. He walked McHaney, struck out Luis Estrada and gave up a single to Felipe Hernandez. ‘Bane’ went out and pulled him from the game for Jin-guo Huang. Huang gave up a double on the 1st pitch to Carlos Sanchez that scored McHaney.
‘Bane’ sprinted out of the dugout and called for Dave Ferrell. Ferrell quickly put Mehta down in the count 0-2 then tried to entice him with a sweeping slider out of the zone. Mehta spit on it and took the ball. Mehta stepped out for just a breath and stepped back into the box. Ferrell threw another slider but caught just enough of the zone allowing Mehta to slap it down the first baseline for a double scoring Hernandez and Sanchez. Ferrell hit Jake Diamond putting men at first and second with just one out but drew some chirping from the Hawaii dugout. Ferrell then calmly struck out Mitch Wareham and induced Vicente Mendez to fly out to center to end the game.
Omaha wins 6-4.
The Cyclones sweep the four-game series.
Pacific Division Standings as of July 14, 2058
Frick League Wildcard Standings
