Sports stats

SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Rocket City Rally Comes Up Short in 8-7 Loss

September 14, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


KODAK, Tennessee - The Rocket City Trash Pandas fell behind early and couldn't complete their desperate comeback in the ninth in an 8-7 loss to the Tennessee Smokies in the third game of their six-game series on Thursday night at Smokies Stadium.

Trailing 8-4 and down to their last three outs, the Rocket City offense wouldn't go quietly. Mariano Ricciardi began the inning with a walk. D'Shawn Knowles doubled to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Adrian Placencia drove in Ricciardi with a sacrifice fly to left. Tucker Flint's single scored a run to make it 8-6. Anthony Mulrine and Gabe Matthews then walked to load the bases, bringing an end to Eduarniel Nunez's outing.

With Cayne Ueckert (S, 4) on the mound, Arol Vera got the Trash Pandas within a run on a sacrifice fly to right, moving the tying run to third with two outs. Bryce Teodosio hit a ground ball to Tennessee shortstop Andy Weber. Hustling down the first base line, Teodosio was thrown at first base by Weber on a close play, giving the Smokies the one-run victory.

Making his third Double-A start, Rocket City righty Bryce Osmond got into early trouble. A single, a fielder's choice, and a walk loaded the bases for the Smokies with nobody out in the bottom of the first. Moises Ballesteros' RBI single plated the first run, a bases-loaded walk to James Triantos scored the second run, and Casey Opitz lifted a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Smokies lead after one.

Two innings later, the Smokies doubled the lead on a two-run single from Optiz and an RBI single from Weber, chasing Osmond (L, 0-2) from the game with Tennessee up 6-0. He took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 2.2 innings.

After retiring the first 10 batters he faced, Smokies starter Brandon Birdsell finally faltered in the fourth. A walk to Placencia and singles by Flint and Tyler Payne loaded the bases with nobody out. Matthews got the visitors on the board with a two-run single to center. Vera's RBI single cut the Tennessee lead in half at 6-3. But with the bases loaded and one out, the Trash Pandas could get no closer as Mac McCroskey popped up and Ricciardi struck out to end the inning.

Tennessee came right back to add on to the lead with back-to-back doubles from BJ Murray and Owen Caissie in the fourth against Erik Martinez. In the fifth, Opitz connected on his third homer of the season, a solo shot to make it a 8-3 game.

Flint's second hit of the night, an RBI double in the seventh, got the Trash Pandas a run closer against reliever Carlos Guzman (W, 6-2). Porter Hodge pitched a clean eighth to keep the lead at four before the ninth inning rally came up one run short.

Martinez provided the Trash Pandas with length out of the bullpen, allowing two runs over 3.1 innings. Willian Suarez fired a scoreless bottom of the seventh and Nathan Burns pitched a clean eighth. Offensively, Flint led the Rocket City attack by going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Matthews was 2-for-4 with two RBI while Vera also drove in a pair in the loss.

The Trash Pandas (58-77, 27-39 second half) continue the series against the Smokies (72-62, 36-30 second half) on Friday night. First pitch at Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.

Check out the Rocket City Trash Pandas Statistics



Southern League Stories from September 14, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Rocket City Trash Pandas Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central