I like daytime baseball, but night-time games here at Les Murakami are beautiful, too. ‘Iolani and Punahou are squaring off in the second game of an ILH twinbill.
First inning
The Raiders strike in the top of the first with two runs off Punahou southpaw Michael Viola. Austin Jim On led off with a single and later came home on Pikai Winchester’s single to right. Impressive at-bat by Winchester, who battled back from a two-strike out and fouled off three pitches.
Devin Ide was hit by a Viola pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home Winchester from third. IOL 2, PUN 0.
Jim On, ‘Iolani’s starter on the mound, hit the leadoff man, Jantzen Tamanaha, on a 1-1 pitch, but Tamanaha didn’t get past second base.
Second inning
The Raiders got a single to left by Winchester with two outs, but that was it. Viola looks much more steady now.
Three up, three down for PUN.
Fourth inning
Raiders aggressive, swinging early against Viola. He retires the side in order.
The Buffanblu plate two runs in the bottom half. Kai Terada-Herzer leads off with a walk, Tamanaha singles, and Terada-Herzer scores on Easton Takamoto’s sacrifice fly. Tamanaha scores on Noah Goss’ single to center. PUN 2, IOL 2.
Since retiring seven of the first eight Punahou batters, Jim On has given up a walk, single, sac fly, single and walk. Now Mason Asato has a 3-1 count as the Raiders call time and the infield meets at the mound.
Jim On throws a strike, then walks Asato. Here comes coach Brent Shimokawa. That’s it for Jim On. He went 2 1/3 innings, leaves with the bases loaded. Kaimana Bartolome, a junior right-hander, is now warming up. Jim On moves to CF.
First game between MPI and KS was quick, just 1 hour, 40 minutes. This one feels like a marathon in the works.
Matthew Nakamoto sends a hard grounder to second, where Landen Moran has to adjust to the ball and can’t control it. Ball squirts into right field, scoring Goss and Allan Dong. Two errors in the inning for the Raiders. PUN 4, IOL 2.
Fourth inning
Viola has recovered nicely after that rough beginning. He walks Brad Hayashi with two outs, but no damage done. He’s retired 10 of the last 12 Raiders, and they’re swinging early in the count because Viola is throwing early strikes.
The Buffanblu chase Bartolome in the bottom of the fourth. Another ‘Iolani error starts it off, and after a walk, Takamoto’s sac bunt brings Andrew Matsueda home. PUN 5, IOL 2.
After Goss gets an intentional walk, Dong singles to center, scoring Terada-Herzer (walk). PUN 6, IOL 2.
Bartolome exits after pitching 1 1/3 innings. Corey Nakakura is the new pitcher. Nakakura puts out the fire, getting Asato to ground out, ending the inning.
Fifth inning
Viola making music on the mound. Three up, three down. He has set down 13 of the last 15 Raiders.
Punahou got runners at the corners with two outs and tried to induce ‘Iolani into a double-steal scenario, but while one runner was in a rundown between second and first, the runner on third waited too late to break for home plate. Nakakura gets out of a pickle.
Sixth inning
Josh Inaba reaches base on a throwing error by Takamoto, the third baseman, then runs squarely into the first-base umpire. The ump, who had been standing in fair territory about 10 feet from first base, gets up and seems OK.
Moran socks a double down the left-field line and Inaba is wisely held up at third. Huge opportunity for the team in red and black here. Viola straightens things out, getting Hayashi on a called third strike on the outside corner to end the threat.
The Buffanblu get a two-out, opposite-field single by Goss, but that’s it. Last chance for the Raiders coming up.
Seventh inning
Viola retires the side in order. Fine recovery by Viola after that wobbly first inning.
FINAL: Punahou 6, ‘Iolani 2.
COMMENTS