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SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Trash Pandas Rally for Doubleheader Split

May 29, 2022 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


MADISON, Alabama - After a tough 7-4 loss in the opener, the Rocket City Trash Pandas came from behind for a 3-2 win in the second game of their doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Field, clinching a series victory over the Tennessee Smokies.

The win improves the Trash Pandas record to nine games above .500 at 27-18, their Southern League-leading home record to 16-8, and keeps them two games ahead of the Smokies for first place in the North Division with four weeks remaining in the first half.

In the opener the teams traded homers throughout the afternoon. Rocket City starter Brent Killam ran into early trouble as two-run homers from Alexander Canario and Bradlee Beesley gave Tennessee a 4-0 lead over the first two innings.

Ryan Aguilar's solo shot in the bottom of the second was his fifth of the season and got the Trash Pandas a run back before Tennessee answered on Levi Jordan's solo homer in the third.

Orlando Martinez connected on a two-run to left-center in the bottom of the third, cutting the Tennessee lead in half at 5-3 with his third homer of the year. However, Chase Strumpf's two-run blast off Zach Linginfelter in the top of the fifth restored the four-run lead and put the game out of reach for good at 7-3 Tennessee.

The Trash Pandas threatened in sixth and got a run closer on Aaron Whitefield's bases-loaded walk. With the tying runs on base, Martinez grounded out to end the inning down 7-4. An inning later, Jose Gomez stepped to the plate as the tying run with two outs and popped up to end the game.

Killam (L, 2-3) took the loss after giving up five runs on six hits with five strikeouts over four innings. Linginfelter allowed two more runs over 1.2 innings and Nick Jones ended the game on the mound with 1.1 clean innings.

The second game began with Trash Pandas starter and reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week Coleman Crow in fine form. He made quick work of the Smokies in the first two innings.

The Trash Pandas took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the second when Preston Palmeiro launched a solo home run off the Inline Electric Rock Porch in right field for his fourth big fly of the season.

Crow retired all six hitters he faced in the third and fourth innings. But in the fifth, he ran into trouble. A walk and two Rocket City errors loaded the bases. With two outs, Darius Hill singled to left, plating two unearned runs and putting Tennessee in front 2-1.

Rocket City responded to even the score. Torii Hunter Jr. fought back from a 1-2 count to take a walk and steal second base. Livan Soto followed with a clutch single to center, scoring Hunter Jr. with the tying run.

In the sixth, Crow got two outs around a walk to Bryce Ball. Eric Torres entered and got the final out to keep the game tied. Over 5.2 innings, Crow allowed two unearned runs on two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in a no-decision.

Martinez reached on a walk to start the bottom of the sixth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs and two strikes, Palmeiro laced a single to left, plating Martinez with the go-ahead run.

Torres returned to the mound in the seventh and issued a leadoff walk. A sacrifice bunt and a fly out moved the runner to third with two outs. With the game on the line, Torres got Hill to fly out to center, securing the Trash Pandas victory.

Palmeiro and Soto each recorded a pair of hits in the win for the Trash Pandas, their ninth one-run victory of the season. Torres (W, 1-1) earned his first professional victory by finishing the game with 1.1 scoreless frames.

The Trash Pandas (27-18) hit the road to begin a six-game series with the Chattanooga Lookouts (24-21) on Tuesday night at AT&T Field. First pitch 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 May 29, 2022


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