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SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Mistakes Sting Trash Pandas in 4-3 Loss

August 23, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


The Rocket City Trash Pandas fought until the bitter end, but ultimately squandered too many opportunities in a 4-3 loss to the Birmingham Barons on Wednesday night at Toyota Field.

The game was a pitcher's duel from the outset, with Rocket City righty Ivan Armstrong and Birmingham starter Nick Nastrini matching each other zero for zero to start the night.

In his third Double-A start, Armstrong was sharp. He navigated around trouble in the second. Wilfred Veras began the inning with a double and Edgar Quero walked to put two on with nobody out. Armstrong got through the inning by striking out Tim Elko before pop ups from Terrell Tatum and Yoelqui Cespedes ended the frame.

In the fourth, Armstrong induced a double play from Quero to erase a leadoff single and struck out Tatum to end the inning, and his start, with the game still scoreless. For the second consecutive start, Armstrong threw four scoreless innings, this time tying a season-high with five strikeouts while walking one and surrendering four hits.

Jake Lee (L, 0-2) was first out of the Trash Pandas bullpen and allowed the first run of the game. Jose Rodriguez extended the inning with a two-out double to left. Colson Montgomery followed with a single to shallow left to bring in Castillo and open the scoring.

Rocket City fought back in the bottom of the frame to tie it off Nastrini. Jose Gomez started the inning with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Anthony Mulrine. Mariano Ricciardi followed with a double into the left field corner, plating Gomez to even the score.

The Barons restored the lead in the sixth. Veras began the frame with a walk. Quero followed with a towering two-run homer to right against his former club to make it a 3-1 game. The home run was Quero's sixth of the season and third with the Barons.

Rocket City got a run back in the bottom of the frame but couldn't get even. Sonny DiChiara walked and Tucker Flint singled, while an error moved the runners to second and third with nobody out. D'Shawn Knowles then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate DiChiara from third. However, Flint got caught between second and third on the play and was tagged out retreating to second, taking the tying run off the bases.

The score remained 3-2 until the eighth. The Barons were able to add a key insurance run on Moises Castillo's RBI single to right to make it 4-2 off Nick Jones.

Again, the Trash Pandas got a little closer yet not close enough. They loaded the bases with one out. Mulrine then hit a hard ground ball to third, where Barons third baseman Bryan Ramos stepped on the base for an RBI fielder's choice to make it 4-3. The Barons turned to Gil Luna out of the bullpen. Without throwing a pitch, the lefty escaped the jam by picking Mulrine off first to hold the one run lead.

Luna returned to the mound in the ninth and worked into a two-out jam. Three straight walks kept the game going and loaded the bases. Flint then worked a full count before swinging and missing on strike three to end the game.

Offensively, Flint went 3-for-5 for the Trash Pandas while Paris took three walks to extend his on-base streak to 24.

Nastrini (W, 3-0) earned the win for the Barons by allowing one run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Luna (S, 1) earned his first save of the season with 1.1 scoreless frames.

The Trash Pandas (52-63, 21-25 second half) continue the series with the Birmingham Barons (43-73, 18-29 second half) on Wednesday 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 broadcast locally on WAAY 31.6, This TV.

On Thursday night, 1,500 adults ages 18 and older will receive a one-of-a-kind Trash Pandas Car Shade upon arrival, presented by Bill Penney Toyota. Before the game, fans can enjoy a pre-game Classic Car exhibit in the parking lot, which opens at 2 p.m. Fans can vote for their favorite car, with the winner receiving a trophy and a custom Trash Pandas jersey.

Finally on Thursday night, the iconic Dumpster Wrap returns for one night only! The Dumpster Wrap features two hot dogs, crispy fries, house-made chili, fried jalapeño caps, and chipotle ranch sauce all rolled up in a cheese quesadilla.

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Southern League Stories from August 23, 2023


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