Game Info: August 5 vs. Birmingham: 6:35 PM: Gates 5:30 PM: Toyota Field
SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Game Info: August 5 vs. Birmingham: 6:35 PM: Gates 5:30 PM: Toyota Field

Published on August 5, 2026 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


Wednesday, August 5, 2026 - 6:35 PM CT - Toyota Field - Madison, AL

Matchup: Rocket City Trash Pandas (LAA) (18-16, 53-49) vs. Birmingham Barons (15-19, 41-62)

Pitching Matchup: LHP Lucas Knowles (1-0, 6.23) vs. RHP Drew Thorpe (0-0, 0.00)

TV/Radio: WAAY-TV 31.6, Bally Live, MiLB.TV (WATCH LIVE) - 97.7 ESPN The Zone (WZZN-FM), Talk Radio 97.7 FM HD-2 (LISTEN LIVE)

Today's Promotions:

Bookworm Night: Calling all book lovers! The Trash Pandas are teaming up with Greene Books and Blushing Books for Bookworm Night, presented by Marx Optical.

Wine Wednesday: Enjoy $5 rosé, red, and white wine specials throughout the game at the Rock Porch, Raccoon Saloon, Third Base Bar, and SportsMED Stadium Club.

Warfighter Wednesday: The Trash Pandas team up with Blue Origin and partners like Vet Tix to honor service members, veterans, and first responders. Fans and businesses can get involved by purchasing group ticket packages or donating tickets through Vet Tix to help those who serve enjoy a night at the ballpark.

Featured Food Items of the Homestand:

Eat Your Opponent Dog (Sprocket's): The Chi-Town is a cheddar brat topped with house-made pulled pork, crispy onions, white queso, and BBQ sauce.

Triple Crown Bites (All-Stars): Cinnamon pretzel bites topped with strawberry sauce, chocolate syrup, vanilla glaze, and a fried banana pie.

Featured Homestand Cocktails:

On Grateful Dead Night (August 6), enjoy the Ripple Effect, a refreshing mix of tequila, pineapple, lime, and a splash of soda water. On Space Night (August 8), enjoy the Cosmic Crush, a tropical blend of Malibu rum, pineapple juice, and fresh lime juice.

Upcoming Promotions at Toyota Field:

Thursday, August 6: Grateful Dead Night featuring live music by Milltowne, Throwback Thursday with $3 domestic draft beers, and the first-ever postgame drone show at Toyota Field.

Friday, August 7: You Are Not Alone Night followed by Friday Night Fireworks.

Saturday, August 8: Space Night featuring specialty jerseys, a game-worn jersey auction, and Space Night Fireworks.

Sunday, August 9: PAW Patrol Day featuring a special appearance by Chase, a jersey auction, pregame player autographs, face painting, and Kids Run the Bases after the game.

Panda Notes:

FOR STARTERS: The Rocket City Trash Pandas continue their six-game series against the Birmingham Barons on Wednesday night at Toyota Field after taking Tuesday's opener. Winners of four straight and eight of their last 11 games, Rocket City also won four of six last week at Columbus and enters play atop the Southern League North second-half standings, holding a 1.5-game lead over Knoxville.

PANDAS TAKE SERIES FINALE IN GEORGIA: RHP Austin Gordon matched a career high with 10 strikeouts over 6.0 innings to earn his fifth win of the season in Tuesday's 8-3 victory. Tucker Flint reached base in four plate appearances, scoring twice while driving in two runs, and Jake Munroe extended his on-base streak to a season-best 23 games, surpassing Raudi Rodriguez for the longest streak by a Trash Panda in 2026.

BULLPEN BRILLIANCE: Rocket City's bullpen has not allowed an earned run over its last 16.1 innings (four games), posting a .127 opponent batting average with 20 strikeouts, two walks, and a 33.9% strikeout rate.

STREAKING WITH JAKE: INF Jake Munroe is riding a 23-game on-base streak, the longest active streak in the Southern League, batting .348 with three home runs, eight doubles, 16 RBIs, nine walks, and a .422 OBP. Munroe has reached base in 32 of 33 games since joining Rocket City on June 23, batting .325 with three homers, 10 doubles, 23 RBIs, 14 walks, 12 multi-hit games, and a .400 OBP.

ALONE AT THE TOP: The Trash Pandas have held sole possession of first place in the Southern League North second-half standings since Saturday's victory, their first time atop the standings alone in 754 days, dating back to July 9, 2024 (9-4).

17 ROSTER MOVES IMPACT PANDAS: The Angels made sweeping changes to Rocket City's roster this week, promoting RHP Ryan Costeiu, LHP Leonard Garcia, RHP Joel Hurtado, and OF Raudi Rodriguez to Triple-A Salt Lake while selecting the contract of LHP Blake Weiman. The Trash Pandas welcomed RHP Tyler Bremner, LHPs Dylan Phillips and Nicolo Pinazzi, and OF Randy De Jesus from High-A Tri-City, along with trade acquisitions INF Arjun Nimmala, C Jacob Cozart, OF Eddie Micheletti Jr., and RHP Kyle Robinson. Additionally, OFs David Calabrese, Elijah Dunham, and C Yeremi Villahermosa were released, while C J.J. D'Orazio was placed on the Development List.

PROSPECT POWER: The roster moves were highlighted by the arrivals of MLB Pipeline's No. 1 prospect Tyler Bremner (from High-A Tri-City) and No. 2 prospect Arjun Nimmala (acquired from Toronto), who rank No. 42 and No. 43 overall on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, marking the first time in franchise history the Trash Pandas have had two Top 50 overall prospects on the active roster. Catcher Jacob Cozart (joined from Cleveland), outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr. (acquired from Toronto), and right-hander Kyle Robinson (acquired from Pittsburgh) arrived via trades, and left-handers Dylan Phillips and Nicolo Pinazzi, along with outfielder Randy De Jesus, were promoted from High-A Tri-City.

Check out the Rocket City Trash Pandas Statistics

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Southern League Stories from August 5, 2026


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