Yonder Alonso Powers BeachBoys Past Honu

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Yonder Alonso Powers BeachBoys Past Honu

Kyle Galdeira
11/12/08

Yonder Alonso cranked a game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the tenth inning with two out and a full count to guide Waikiki past North Shore, 3-2, tonight at Hans L’Orange Park.

Because Honolulu lost earlier in the day, Waikiki now leads the Hawaii Winter Baseball East Division by 1 ½ games. The BeachBoys need a win or tie in one of their remaining two games—both of which are against the Sharks—in order to lock up the division, and earn a berth in the HWB Championship Game on Nov. 16 against HWB West champ, West Oahu.

Alonso paced Waikiki with two hits, including a double and the game-altering big fly, and teammate Buster Posey went 2-5 with a double as the San Francisco Giants prospect improved his batting average to .373.

The Honu (14-19) established a 2-0 lead thanks to solo home runs from Kyu Hyun Moon in the second inning, and Jordan Parraz in the sixth frame. The home runs marked the first long balls of the season for both players.

But the BeachBoys (18-16) countered with two runs in the home half of the sixth on an RBI double from Alonso that scored Damon Sublett, and a RBI single off the bat of Alex Garabedian to plate Posey. Honu reliever Brett Hunter came on with two out and the bases loaded, and struck out Johan Limonta to end the rally.

Parraz led the Honu at the dish with a team-high two hits in defeat.

Jeremy Papelbon (1-0) notched his first HWB victory after holding North Shore scoreless in the top of the tenth inning. Waikiki starter Andrew Brackman of the New York Yankees received a no-decision after throwing five innings through which he surrendered the two home runs, walked five, and struck out three.

Dustin Richardson (0-2) took the loss for the Honu after surrendering Alonso’s home run. North Shore starter Jason Godin did not factor in the decision despite tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings in which he scattered two hits and struck out four.

Both squads have tomorrow off, and return to action Friday.