The Hawaii Tropics welcome the Vancouver Mounties to ‘Iolani Palace as the teams play a three-game series. The teams are 162-162 all time against each other with Hawaii up in the season series 2-1.
The Tropics get on the board quick with a Luis Ricciardi two-run homer (4) in the 1st and a Frank McMillan solo homer (5) in the 2nd then Gerardo Rea shuts down the Mounties offense to get the win. Rea pitched six innings allowing just a run on three hits, walked two and struck out five. He improves to 4-2 with a 1.93 ERA and earned himself Player of the Game. Hawaii 3B Mitch Wareham was 4 for 4 with a double (6) and scored a run.
Hawaii wins 4-2.
Hawaii starter Semih Gurani cruised through 4.1 innings before feeling some pain in his throwing elbow. He was removed from the game after giving up just three hits, walked a batter and struck out three. Bill Phillips relieved Gurani and finished the inning but didn’t come out for the 6th due to back spasms. The bullpen didn’t miss a beat as the next man up was Chih Kuang. Kuang has struggled this season, but he showed no signs of the demons that has plagued him this season as he threw 36 pitches in three innings of work allowing just a hit, walked one and struck out one to get the win. He improves to 2-0 with a still bloated 5.06 ERA. Frank McMillan was the Player of the Game after going 2 for 3 at the plate with a solo homer (6) and three RBI.
Hawaii wins 6-0.
Hawaii’s offense stranded just seven runners and put 8 runs on the board highlighted by a Grand Slam off the bat of Vincente Mendez. Mendez has struggled at the plate this season but tagged a get it over the plate 1st pitch he saw for a salami in the 6th. He was 1 for 4 on the day. Hawaii’s Elvin Hilliard was the Player of the Game after pitching seven scoreless innings allowing three hits, walking two and struck out three. He improves to 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA.
Hawaii wins 8-2.
The Tropics sweep the three-game series.
GM Jim Walker said, “The sweep was nice. The Gurani injury tempers our excitement though. We’ll see what the doc says tomorrow. I miss Sandy.”
