Satoshi Nagai tossed seven innings, allowing a run on one hit and striking out 11 to propel Honolulu over Waikiki, 4-1, tonight at Les Murakami Stadium.
Nagai improved to 4-2 on the season and helped the Sharks move to 17-17 on the campaign, while Roy Merritt threw two perfect innings to close out the game and earn his second save. The victory allowed the Sharks to trim Waikiki's Hawaii Winter Baseball East Division lead to a ½ game, and forces a must-win situation for both teams tomorrow to determine the division champion. The HWB East title holder earns a berth in Sunday's championship game against HWB West champion West Oahu.
Roger Kieschnick hit a solo home run over the wall in right field to put Waikiki (18-17) up 1-0 in the second inning. The blast was the San Francisco prospect's sixth long ball of the season, putting him in a tie for the league lead with North Shore's Kyle Martin.
But the Sharks took a 2-1 lead thanks to two BeachBoys errors that led to runs. Dominic Brown reached on Yonder Alonso's missed catch error at first base in the third inning that allowed Bradley Emaus to score. In the fifth frame, Brown came around on Tony Thomas' errant throw that sailed wide of the first base bag as he attempted to throw out Tony Cruz.
Kala Ka'aihue gave the Sharks some breathing room in the eighth inning with a two-run home run to right-center field. The blast was the Atlanta Braves prospect's fifth long ball of the season.
Brown finished with a game-high three hits, while teammate Lars Davis chipped in two base knocks.
Waikiki starter Jeremy Bleich (3-2) took the loss after allowing two unearned runs on five hits through five innings.
Both squads return to Murakami Stadium tomorrow at 7 p.m. for the second contest in a two-game series, and the final regular-season game of the year.
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