SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Ninth Inning Rally Pushes Trash Pandas Past Lookouts 4-3

Published on April 26, 2023 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee - After allowing the tying run to score in the bottom of the eighth, the Rocket City Trash Pandas restored their lead with a clutch two-out hit in the top of the ninth inning and hung on in the bottom half to defeat the Chattanooga Lookouts 4-3 on Wednesday night at AT&T Field.

Edgar Quero got the ninth started with a leadoff walk and Tucker Flint was hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out. A fly out from David Calabrese advanced Quero to third with two outs. Jose Gomez followed with the decisive swing, lining a single to left to put the Trash Pandas up 4-3.

In the bottom of the inning, Ben Joyce (S, 3) retired the Lookouts one, two, three with a pair of pop ups and a ground out to second to finish the win and earn the save. The win snaps the Trash Pandas' season-long four-game losing streak and evens their six-game series with the Lookouts at one game each.

Trash Pandas starter Coleman Crow began the night in fine form, retiring the first seven batters he faced. Quincy McAfee was the first man to reach with a one-out walk in the third. Crow quickly negated the walk by picking McAfee off first base before striking out Ashton Creal to end the inning.

Chattanooga struck first off Crow in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Francisco Urbaez, his first of the season. The Trash Pandas wasted little time in responding.

Singles from Kyren Paris and Quero put two on with two out for Rocket City in the fifth. Jeremiah Jackson cashed in by crushing a double to deep left, scoring both runners to put the Trash Pandas ahead 2-1.

The Lookouts got the tying run right back in the bottom of the frame with Rece Hinds' leadoff homer evening the score at two. Daniel Vellojin doubled to put the go-ahead run in scoring position and a sacrifice bunt moved him to third with one out. Crow was able to escape with the go-ahead run stranded on third, striking out Creal and inducing a ground out from Jacob Hurtubise to keep the score tied.

Crow ended a terrific start by retiring the Lookouts in order in the sixth and seventh. In the longest start of the season by a Trash Pandas pitcher, Crow allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts over seven innings. He would not factor in the final decision.

Rocket City briefly restored the lead in the eighth when Orlando Martinez crushed a triple to deep right center and came home to score on Kevin Maitan's RBI ground out to short.

Kolton Ingram was first out of the Rocket City bullpen in the eighth and was unable to hold the lead, issuing four walks to bring in the tying run, with Alex McGarry taking a close 3-2 pitch for ball four to make it a 3-3 game.

Zac Kristofak entered with two outs and the bases loaded and struck out Allan Cerda to hold the tie going to the ninth, when the Trash Pandas took the lead again and held on for good.

At the plate, Jackson tied a career-high with four hits in a 4-for-5 performance with a double and two RBI. Quero scored two of the Trash Pandas' four runs in the victory. Kristofak (W, 2-1) earned the win out of the bullpen by retiring the only batter he faced with the five pitch strikeout to end the eighth.

The Trash Pandas (9-8) and Lookouts (9-8) continue their series on Thursday night. First pitch at AT&T Field is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.

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Southern League Stories from April 26, 2023


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