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SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Sonny Comes Home, Leads Trash Pandas to Take Opener

August 2, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


Birmingham, Ala. - Nearby Hoover HS alum and Trash Pandas DH Sonny DiChiara homered and drove in an insurance run in extra innings as the Trash Pandas defeated the Birmingham Barons 3-1 in the series opener at Regions Field on Tuesday Night.

The former Auburn Tiger put the Trash Pandas on the board first with an opposite field solo shot over the right field fence in the fourth, his fifth in 41 games this season. In the 10th Inning, after 1B Nolan Schanuel's bases loaded eight-pitch walk drew in the go-ahead run, DiChiara followed with a blast to the centerfield warning track which scored 2B Mac McCroskey.

Since July 18, DiChiara has hit safely in 10 of 11 games, and is batting .325 over that span (13-for-40).

The Trash Pandas tallied eights and stranded six baserunners through the first five innings off of Barons RHP Cristian Medina. Birmingham's relief corps limited the Trash Pandas one hit through the next four innings. The lone hit in that stretch was Schanuel's third in his four at-bats, before he added the game-winning RBI in the 10th. The Angels 1st Rounder in the 2023 MLB Draft is now 6-for-12 to begin his Double-A career.

On a day the Trash Pandas lost INF Jeremiah Jackson in a trade at the Major League level, another roster stalwart took centerstage in Birmingham. In his 44th career game with Rocket City and 36th start, RHP Brett Kerry led the charge, but settled for a hard luck no-decision.

The 24-year-old former South Carolina Gamecock kept the Barons in check through the first five innings, scattering two hits and two walks through the five frames. Opening the sixth with a 1-0 lead, he retired his seventh straight Baron with a strikeout. 2B Jose Rodriguez then singled to centerfield, reached second on catcher's interference, and scored when Kerry's former batterymate C Edgar Quero singled just under the glove of a diving Schanuel at first. He stranded the bases loaded by retiring the last two batters in the sixth.

In total, the former 5th Round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft tossed six innings, allowed one run on five hits and struck out seven. Kerry has pitched at least five innings and allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts.

In relief of Kerry, RHP Luke Murphy tossed two scoreless innings. LHP Nick Jones (W, 2-1) collected five outs before giving way to RHP Kelvin Caseres (SV, 1) who induced the final out on one pitch, an unassisted groundout to 3B Jose Gomez to end the game.

The Trash Pandas (43-53, 12-15 in 2nd Half) continue the seven-game series with the Barons (33-63, 8-19 in 2nd Half) tomorrow with a doubleheader with each game scheduled for seven innings. First Pitch of Game #1 at Regions Field is scheduled for 4:30pm. The Barons will send RHP Jonathan Cannon (0-1, 9.95 ERA) tomorrow for Game #1 and the Trash Pandas have not announced a starter. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. The game will broadcast on MiLB.TV, the MLB App, and Bally Live!

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Southern League Stories from August 2, 2023


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