Rodrigues climbs hill

The Hawaii pitcher is effective in his first action in 20 months

Mark Rodrigues started for the Hawaii Rainbows in its exhibition game against the Alumni yesterday, the first time, to the day, that he has pitched in 20 months.

The last time the left-hander threw to an opposing batter, he was a sophomore at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Calif.

The Kauai native pitched 4 1/3 innings before surpassing his pitch limit of 75 by one in a game the Rainbows won 15-1 at Les Murakami Stadium.

"I'm just happy to get my feet wet," said Rodrigues, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and walked three, struck out five and allowed two hits while relying mostly on his fastball.

"The first inning, there were some butterflies, and I'm disappointed in the walks, but I've been going to rehab and I felt good."

All three walks came on full-count pitches.

"Mark was OK. He pumped some strikes in the first inning, but had trouble with his location. I'm just glad to get him out there," said UH coach Mike Trapasso.

Rich Olsen took over for Rodrigues and allowed two hits the rest of the way.

Rainbow senior Justin Costi pitched the final four innings for the Alumni, who had just one pitcher -- Eugene Myers -- available.

"I thought Costi was outstanding. He had the best fastball command he has had all year," said Trapasso.

The 'Bows scored an unearned run in the first inning. Nate Thurber misplayed Justin Frash's short fly ball into a two-base error, and Jon Hee followed with a line single to left, scoring Frash.

The Alumni tied the score in the top of the second after Rodrigues walked Thurber to lead off the inning.

Thurber took second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Gregg Omori's groundout and scored on Danny Kimura's infield single over the mound.

Matt Inouye started the UH second with a walk, stole second, took third on Eli Christensen's fly to right and scored on Robbie Wilder's single to short. Wilder scored on Joe Spiers' wind-blown double to right.

The Rainbows took a 5-1 lead in the third.

Frash singled to right, but was forced at second on Hee's grounder. However, Hee continued to second when Alumni shortstop Trey Garman's relay went into the UH dugout. Kris Sanchez brought Hee home with a single to center, then stole second and came home on Esteban Lopez's line single to center.

The first 10 Hawaii batters reached base safely in the fourth, when the 'Bows scored 10 runs on 10 hits for a 15-1 lead.

"We went into cruise control after the big inning, but part of that was due to Costi," Trapasso said.

"It is hard to judge our hitters. It was a good outing, good for their confidence and good for the new kids to play in front of a crowd (492).

Frash, a transfer from Oxnard Community College, and Wilder, a senior outfielder, each had three hits. Sanchez, a transfer from Central Arizona College, and sophomore infielders Spiers and Hee each contributed three RBIs.

The Rainbow defense played errorless ball and turned four double plays.

Hawaii starts the regular season Wednesday with the first of four games against San Diego State, which is coached by former San Diego Padres star Tony Gwynn.