The Tropics finish their home stand with a four-game series against the San Fernando Bears. The Bears have owned the Trops this season winning 8 of the 10 matchups and hold a 173-164 edge all time.
The Hawaii Tropics bullpen implodes in the 9th inning allowing five runs and fall once again to the Bears. Reliever Bill Phillips was the main culprit as he gave up four of those runs on three hits and a walk while pitching just 2/3 of an inning. He took the loss to fall to 2-4 with a 2.15 ERA. It ruined a good start by Utbah ‘Crawdad Me’ bin Muta who threw 85 pitches in six innings. He allowed two unearned runs on a hit and three walks with four Ks in a no decision.
Russ McHaney hit a two-run blast (22) on the 6th inning and Carlos Sanchez hit a solo shot in the bottom of the 9th. Rookie Julian Rivera was 2 for 3 with an RBI.
San Fernando wins 8-4.
Hawaii gave up the lead early rather than late this time and fall again by the same score. Starter Elvin Hilliard didn’t get out of the 1st inning as he gave up five runs on five hits and two walk in his worst start of the season. He falls to 11-11 with a 4.97 ERA. Rivera was 1 for 4 with a bases loaded double (23) in the 2nd inning that plated all three runners. Mitch Wareham was 2 for 5 with a double (21) and an RBI.
San Fernando wins 8-4.
The Tropics get a win over the Bears after breaking a 2-2 tie with a three spot in the bottom of the 7th. McHaney homered (23) for the 2nd time in the series with a two-run variety in the 4th inning. Angelo Lucchesi was 1 for 3 with an RBI and Carlos Sanchez doubled twice (31) and scored a run.
Semih Gurani was solid in his start going 5.1 innings allowing a run on three hits with five Ks. Utkan Gocek earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out one as he improves to 6-7 with a 2.78 ERA.
Hawaii wins 5-2.
The Tropics play another extra inning game and fall again as the Bears get the series win. Both teams entered extras 3-3 and scored a run apiece in the 11th before San Fernando scored the decisive run in the top of the 14th. Bill Williams took the loss after two innings of work allowing a run on a solo homer. He falls to 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA.
Mitch Wareham was 3 for 7 with a double (22) and scored a run. Frank McMillan was 2 for 6 with a homer (21), two RBI and two runs scored. He hit the solo homer in the 11th that kept the Trops alive for a few innings.
San Fernando wins 5-4.
The Bears win the series 3-1.
