SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Ninth Inning Homer Hands Trash Pandas 3-2 Loss

September 5, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


MADISON, Alabama - In a tightly contested game that turned into a battle of the bullpens, the Rocket City Trash Pandas allowed a crucial home run in the top of the ninth to suffer a 3-2 loss to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the opener of a six-game series on Tuesday night at Toyota Field.

With the score tied 2-2 after eight, the Trash Pandas turned to new reliever Hayden Seig (L, 0-1) for his second Double-A appearance in the ninth. On just Seig's third pitch, Paul McIntosh connected on a solo homer to deep left, putting Pensacola in front for the first time all night at 3-2.

In the bottom of the inning, Dylan Bice (W, 2-2) retired the Trash Pandas in order to finish the victory, giving the Blue Wahoos their sixth win in seven meetings with Rocket City in 2023.

The game began better than it ended for the home team. Rocket City starter Jake Lee started the night in fine form, setting down the first nine hitters he faced through three scoreless innings. That gave the Trash Pandas the opportunity to strike first, which they capitalized on.

In the bottom of the second, Gabe Matthews singled, Tyler Payne walked, and Bryce Teodosio was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Mac McCroskey cashed in with a two-run single to shallow right by perfectly placing a pop fly between Pensacola defenders to open the scoring.

Pensacola came back in the fourth. Nasim Nunez got the inning started with a single. Victor Mesa Jr. followed with a double to the gap in left-center, scoring Nunez to make it 2-1. Two hitters later, Paul McIntosh tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center. The fourth inning would be Lee's last. He allowed two runs on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Blue Wahoos starter M.D. Johnson limited the damage after the second, keeping the game tied for the remainder of his outing. He pitched six innings, giving up two runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The relief duel began with Trash Pandas righty Erik Martienz throwing two scoreless innings to get through the sixth with the 2-2 tie intact. Nathan Burns and Chandler Jozwiak each pitched a scoreless seventh.

Luke Murphy struck out Will Banfield to strand the go-ahead run at second in the eighth. Jozwiak and Bice combined on a clean bottom of the inning, giving the Blue Wahoos the chance to take the lead in the ninth.

Offensively, Payne was the only Rocket City starter to record more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. The Trash Pandas did not record an extra-base hit in the loss.

The Trash Pandas (57-70, 26-32 second half) continue the series against the Blue Wahoos (71-54, 30-27 second half) on Wednesday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. Wednesday's game is a special Education Day Game and Business Person Special, the perfect opportunity to take a long lunch, leave work early, or spend an afternoon with family and friends at the ballpark for the final 11:05 a.m. game of the year.

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Southern League Stories from September 5, 2023


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