SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Trash Pandas Blanked in Biloxi 1-0

Published on July 15, 2023 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


The Rocket City Trash Pandas squandered chances throughout the night, falling by the thinnest of margins, 1-0 to the Biloxi Shuckers in a fast-moving game on Saturday night at MGM Park in the second game of their three-game series.

For the second straight game, the Shuckers struck in their opening turn at the plate, this time off Rocket City starter Victor Mederos (L, 3-6). The third hitter in the bottom of the first, Jeferson Quero, launched a solo home run to left, his 13th of the season, for the first run of the night.

The one run would prove to be enough support for Biloxi starter Carlos Rodriguez. He cruised through the first three innings before the Trash Pandas threatened in the fourth. Edgar Quero reached with a one-out single and Jeremiah Jackson followed with a double to put two on and one out. Rodriguez stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base by striking out Tucker Flint and Sonny DiChiara to end the inning with the 1-0 lead intact.

Rocket City again threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batter. Again, Rodriguez got through the trouble on a ground ball fielder's choice from Kyren Paris and a strikeout from Edgar Quero to end the inning.

Mederos did his best to keep the deficit at one for the duration of his outing. He worked around a leadoff double in the fourth, got a double play to end a scoreless fifth, and escaped a sixth inning jam that included two walks and a single to end his night. Over six innings, Mederos allowed one run on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts in a quality start.

Rodriguez (W, 5-3) was a little better for Biloxi. He threw five scoreless innings, giving up two hits while walking three and striking out nine to pick up the victory.

Bryce Teodosio reached with a one-out double in the top of the seventh for the Trash Pandas' biggest chance against Shuckers reliever Ryan Brady. However, the Shuckers reliever retired the next two hitters to hold the lead. Brady pitched three scoreless relief innings to hold the 1-0 lead going to the ninth.

Trash Pandas relievers Ivan Armstrong and Nick Jones each were able to hold the deficit with clean innings of their own.

In the ninth, Shuckers closer Cam Robinson (S, 6) issued a one-out walk to Gabe Matthews. Teodosio then lined out to second. Looking to double pinch-runner Orlando Martinez off first, second baseman Felix Valerio threw wide to first for an error, allowing Martinez to advance to third. With the tying run on third and two outs, Robinson got Jose Gomez to fly out, finishing the 1-0 win for Biloxi.

Rocket City was held to just three hits in the defeat, two of which were doubles from Jackson and Teodosio. Catcher Edgar Quero threw out both runners attempting to steal. As a team, the Trash Pandas went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine men on base. The game took exactly two hours, the fastest nine-inning game of the season for the Trash Pandas.

The Trash Pandas (38-44, 7-6 second half) and Shuckers (40-43, 6-8 second half) wrap up their series on Sunday night. First pitch at MGM Park is set for 5:05 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 July 15, 2023


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