SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Five-Run Eighth Sinks Rocket City in 7-2 Loss

Published on July 23, 2023 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


PENSACOLA, Florida - The Rocket City Trash Pandas wrapped up their longest road trip of the season with a 7-2 loss to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the finale of their six-game series on Sunday afternoon at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

The afternoon began as a pitchers' duel, with Pensacola's M.D. Johnson and Rocket City's Ky Bush matching each other zero for zero.

The closest Rocket City came was in the first, when a leadoff double from David Calabrese was followed by Kyren Paris getting hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out. Johnson got through the jam by striking out the next three hitters he faced to end the inning.

Bush retired the first nine hitters he faced before hitting Nasim Nunez to start the fourth. The next hitter, Griffin Conine, hit a line drive right back to Bush. The Rocket City lefty snared the line drive on the fly then threw back to first double off Nunez and get through the inning without further damage.

Pensacola broke through to open the scoring in the fifth. Jose Devers got the inning started with a walk. Victor Mesa Jr. then doubled on a ground ball down the left field line for the first Pensacola hit of the game, putting runners on second and third. Cody Morissette drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left, plating Devers from third.

The fifth inning would be Bush's last. In a solid start, the southpaw pitched five innings, allowing one run on one hit with three walks and five strikeouts.

Johnson was brilliant for the Blue Wahoos, giving up two hits and walking one with nine strikeouts over six innings to leave in line for the victory.

Pensacola added to the lead in the sixth inning of Rocket City reliever Jake Lee, with Troy Johnston's RBI double to right plating Nunez, who began the inning with a single.

Rocket City's offense finally came to life in the seventh against Blue Wahoos reliever Josan Mendez. Sonny DiChiara began the frame with a single. With two outs, Bryce Teodosio kept the inning alive with a double into the left field corner. Tyler Payne then ripped a double through the right side of the infield, scoring both DiChiara and Teodosio to tie the game at two. Looking to take the lead, David Calabrese lined a single to right. But a strong throw from Mesa Jr. in right field got Payne out at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run, ending the inning.

Nick Jones kept the tie with a scoreless bottom of the seventh. Again, the Trash Panadas threatened to take the lead in the eighth, putting runners on the corners with one out. DiChiara lifted a fly ball to right, where Mesa Jr. made the catch. Tagging up on the play, Paris was also thrown out at the plate by the Blue Wahoos right fielder, keeping the score tied 2-2.

Kelvin Caceres (L, 2-1) entered out of the Rocket City bullpen in the eighth and struggled. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with nobody out. Johnston put the Blue Wahoos back in front with a two-run double down the right field line. Pensacola added on with RBI singles from Devers and Cody Morrisette, making it 7-2 after eight. Caceres would suffer his first Double-A loss, allowing five runs without getting an out.

Zach McCambley (W, 2-0) wrapped up the win with a scoreless ninth, finishing the fifth win in the six game series for Pensacola. He picked up the win with two scoreless innings.

Calabrese went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot in the order for the Trash Pandas while Payne drove in both runs from the bottom of the order. The loss ends the nine-game road trip for Rocket City, suffering series losses in Biloxi and Pensacola.

The Trash Pandas (39-50, 8-12 second half) return home to begin a six-game series against the Tennessee Smokies (51-38, 15-6 second half) on Tuesday night. First pitch at Toyota Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. The game will be televised locally on WAAY 31.6, This TV.

Check out the Rocket City Trash Pandas Statistics

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Southern League Stories from July 23, 2023


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