The Hawaii Tropics return home for a four-game series against the Yellow Springs Nine at the Palace. The Trops have been struggling with a record of 17-25 from June 1st. Hawaii was 35-22 in 1st with a 2-game margin and now sit at 52-46 tied for 2nd 10 games back of the Mad Popes.
Hawaii starter Manny Ortiz couldn’t make it out of the 1st inning as he allowed two homers and four hits combined with three walks that plated five runs.
Ortiz said, “I was thirsty and drank some water from the cooler. I didn’t feel right after that.”
Yellow Springs 1B Burhan ‘Picker’ Tahir hit two homers against Hawaii pitching and drove in four runs to take Player of the Game honors.
DH Felipe Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a double (9) and two RBI. Russ McHaney was 1 for 4 and scored a run. Luis Estrada was 2 for 4 with a double (19) and scored a run.
Yellow Springs wins 8-3.
Nine 1B Burhan Tahir is single handedly beating the Hawaii Tropics. He was 2 for 4 and homered again while scoring two more runs and driving in four. He has scored four runs and had 8 RBI this series so far.
Hawaii starter Semih Gurani did his best through 5.1 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning six but takes the loss to fall to 8-4 with a 2.46 ERA. After a rough stert to the season, Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds has settled in and dropped his ERA. He pitched 1.1 innings in this loss allowing two hits and striking out two. In his last 10 appearances he has pitched 14 innings allowed just 2 ER on 11 hits. He has struck out 17 and walked 2 with a 1.29 ERA.
Luis Estrada hit his 22nd homer of the season and was 1 for 4 with a walk. He scored a run and had two RBI. Frank McMillan was 1 for 3 with a couple of walks and an RBI. Felipe Hernandez was 1 for 2 also with two walks, scored a run and drove in a run.
Yellow Springs wins 6-5.
Hawaii starter Elvin Hilliard had his best start in a month to help the Trops get a win over the Nine and get in this series. He pitched six scoreless innings allowing just three hits, walked two and struck out six as he improves to 10-7 with a 4.44 ERA. Bill Phillips worked two innings of relief and gave up a solo homer but fanned three batters. Bill Williams earned the save with a scoreless 9th.
Felipe Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a solo homer (14) and scored two runs. Julian Rivera played some third and was 1 for 4 with a two RBI single.
Hawaii wins 4-1.
Hawaii’s John Moore and two relievers combine to allow the Nine a run on four hits as the Trops earn a series split. Moore pitched four innings allowing a run on two hits while walking three and striking out five batters. Utkan Gocek earned the win after pitching 2.2 innings and giving up just a hit with three Ks. He improves to 3-4 with a 3.08 ERA. Juan Martinez earned the save (8) with 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just a hit.
Russ McHaney was 2 for 4 with a couple of solo homers (19). After the game McHaney was quoted as saying, “Man, I had some of that water. Damn, that was some good H2O.”
Hawaii wins 3-1.
The Trops and Nine split the four-game series.
Pacific Division Standings as of July 22, 2058
Frick League Wildcard Standings
