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SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Trash Pandas Shut Out by Lookouts 4-0

July 8, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


MADISON, Alabama - The Rocket City Trash Pandas offense was shut down by a trio of Chattanooga Lookouts pitchers on Saturday night in a 4-0 loss in front of a crowd of 5,058 at Toyota Field in the fifth game of their six-game series.

In his return to the Trash Pandas after his first career Major League stint with the Los Angeles Angels, starter Victor Mederos was solid. He got through the first inning unscathed. But in the second, James Free led off with a solo homer, his ninth of the season, to give the Lookouts the early edge.

Two innings later, the Lookouts doubled the lead to two on Drew Mount's RBI infield single to second, plating Quincy McAfee, who reached with a one-out walk. The Lookouts nearly added on to the lead with Blake Dunn's two-out base hit to right. However, a strong throw from right fielder Orlando Martinez nailed Mount at the plate, ending the inning with Rocket City down 2-0.

Mederos (L, 3-5) pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. However, Lookouts starter Joe Boyle (W, 5-5) was better on this night.

The Chattanooga righty kept the Rocket City bats off balance for the duration of his start. Although he worked around baserunners in each of the first four innings, Boyle held the Trash Pandas hitless. His first one, two, three inning of the night came in the fifth. A pair of two-out walks sixth would bring an end to his night. With the tying runs on base, Lookouts reliever Vin Timpanelli struck out Gabe Matthews to keep the no hitter going into the seventh. Boyle earned the win after throwing 5.2 hitless innings, striking out five and walking five.

Making his Trash Pandas debut, veteran righty Fernando Romero was first out of the Rocket City bullpen and pitched a clean sixth. The Lookouts added a single run in both the seventh and eighth to double the lead again to 4-0.

Leading off the seventh, Sonny DiChiara produced Rocket City's first hit of the night, a sharp single to center off Timpanelli. A walk put two on with nobody out. Timpanelli got through the jam with a pop up, a strikeout, and a fly out to keep the shutout going.

Romero pitched three innings in his first outing at the Double-A level since 2017, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Jack Dashwood made his return from the injured list in the ninth, firing a scoreless inning.

Timpanelli finished his night on the mound with a scoreless eighth. He pitched 2.1 innings with four strikeouts to hold the lead for Chattanooga. Pedro Garcia finished the game with a clean ninth. The Lookouts pitching trio of Boyle, Timpanelli, and Garcia combined on the one-hitter, walking six and striking out nine.

The Trash Pandas recorded three outfield assists in the loss, with Martinez, Bryce Teodosio, and Tucker Flint all throwing out a runner on the bases.

The Trash Pandas (36-43, 5-5 second half) and Lookouts (44-35, 6-5 second half) wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Toyota Field is set for 4:05 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. The game will also be televised locally on WAAY 31.6, This TV. 1,000 children ages 17 and under will receive a pair of socks featuring Astronaut Racer Sally, the blue racer in the nightly astronaut race, presented by Davidson Technologies.

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Southern League Stories from July 8, 2023


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