Sharks Stop BeachBoys in Season Opener
September 28, 2008 - Hawaii Winter Baseball 2 (HWB 2)
Honolulu Sharks News Release
Honolulu bit into Waikiki starter Andrew Brackman early, and the Sharks held on for the 8-4 victory on opening night of Hawaii Winter Baseball's eighth season this evening at Les Murakami Stadium.
Brackman (0-1), who made his highly-anticipated professional debut after missing last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, was tagged for six earned runs on seven hits through 2 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-10-inch, 240-pound right hander from the New York Yankees organization threw 71 pitches and struck out three in the outing.
Honolulu (1-0) scored three runs in the opening frame on three hits including a two-run, two-out single up the middle from designated hitter Eric Eiland.
The Sharks continued the hot hitting in the second frame as Greg Veloz led off with a double to the right-center field gap. Ensuing batter Jim Rapoport plated Veloz with a double to left-center field, and extended the Sharks' lead to 4-0.
The hits kept coming for the Sharks in the third frame as Jordan Abruzzo laced an RBI single to right, scoring Michael Taylor who walked earlier in the inning. Following a Rapoport walk, shortstop Reuben Tejada roped a three-run triple off the top of the left field fence, swelling Honolulu's lead to 8-0.
Waikiki (0-1) got on the board in the home half of the third when Marquez Smith was glanced by a fastball from Honolulu hurler Josh Stinson with the bases loaded, scoring Roger Kieschnick. Ensuing batter Todd Frazier's sacrifice fly to right field plated Yuji Onizaki, and trimmed the deficit to 8-2.
In the home half of the fifth, Onizaki drove a triple to right-center field to plate Alfredo Silverio who reached on an infield single to lead off the inning. After Tony Thomas Jr. struck out, Marquez Smith singled up the middle to plate Onizaki and cut the deficit to 8-4.
Stinson (1-0) picked up the victory after tossing three innings through which he struck out two and surrendered two unearned runs. Both teams combined to throw 23 strikeouts.
Eiland and Tejada paced Honolulu with two hits apiece, while Onizaki led Waikiki with two base knocks.
The same two teams square off in the series finale tomorrow at Murakami Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised live on OC-16.
Hawaii Winter Baseball 2 Stories from September 28, 2008
- Late Rally Sparks CaneFires to Sweep - West Oahu CaneFires
- Sharks Complete Sweep of BeachBoys - Honolulu Sharks
- CaneFires Crush Honu on Opening Night - West Oahu CaneFires
- Sharks Stop BeachBoys in Season Opener - Honolulu Sharks
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