The Tropics finish up the home stand with a four-game series against the Valencia Star at ‘Iolani Palace. Valencia is leading the season series 7-3.
The Hawaii Tropics pitchers limit the Stars offense to seven singles and a run as they get a win in the series opener. Semih Gurani started it off with six scoreless innings giving up just three hits and fanned four batters in the win as he improves to 11-6 with a 2.53 ERA. Phil Thompson allowed the only Stars run on three hits in 2/3 of an inning. Juan Martinez and Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds held the Stars scoreless the rest of the way.
Hawaii second baseman Adhyapayana Mehta was 1 for 4 with a three-run blast (6) that propelled the Trops offense. SS Quintin Trewartha has been a big disappointment this season but he was 1 for 3 with a ribbie in this game. Carlos Sanchez was 2 for 4 with a double (35) and scored two runs.
Hawaii wins 4-1.
The Valencia offense took advantage of two Hawaii errors and score six runs in the 2nd inning then cruise to a win to even the series 1-1. John Moore had an easy 1st inning but was let down by his defense as he gave up four hits, walked two and had six unearned runs cross the plate. He falls to 0-5 and his ERA remains 3.90.
The Tropics offense produced three runs on a couple of homers with Frank McMillan hitting a two-run homer (22) and Russ McHaney hitting a solo shot (24).
Valencia wins 9-3.
Hawaii’s bullpen melts down as the Stars score seven runs to take the lead and pull away with a win. Starter Gerardo Rea was brilliant for Hawaii to earn Player of the Game in the loss. He allow a run on a solo homer in eight innings while fanning seven batters in a no decision. Phil Thompson was awful as he blew the save and took the loss giving up four runs on three hits and a walk without recording an out. Juan Martinez allowed three runs on three hits without recording an out in the late rout.
Vincente Mendez tripled and scored a run on a Jake Diamond single. Angelo Lucchesi singled twice and scored on a Katsumi Matsumoto double in the 5th.
Valencia wins 8-2.
The Tropics tie the game in the 8th inning then walk it off in extras to earn a series split with the Valencia Stars. Russ McHaney singled in the 8th to score Jake Diamond from third with the game tying run. Then in the home half of the 14th, Adhyapayana Mehta singled and stole second then scored on a Julian Rivera single to win the game.
Starter Utbah ‘Crawdad Me’ bin Muta struggled through five innings allowing five runs on seven hits. Three of those hits were home runs as he struggled with control in the zone. Bill Williams earned the win with a clean inning in the top of the 14th. Williams is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
The Trops and Stars split the four-game series.
