SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Trash Pandas Stranded in 8-4 Loss to Smokies

July 25, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


MADISON, Alabama - The Rocket City Trash Pandas bullpen let a lead slip away in the middle innings and the offense couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position in an 8-4 loss to the Tennessee Smokies in the opener of a six-game series on Tuesday night at Toyota Field.

The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Trash Pandas. On Rocket City starter Robinson Pina's the first pitch of the night, Tennessee center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a solo home run to right-center, his 13th homer of the season to give the visitors the lead from the outset. The Smokies looked to add on, putting runners at the corners with one out. Pina escaped further damage by inducing a ground ball double play from BJ Murray to end the inning with only one run against.

Rocket City quickly responded in the bottom half against Tennessee starter Manuel Espinoza. David Calabrese got the inning started with a line drive double to the gap in right-center. Kyren Paris then took Calabrese's place at second with a ground-rule double to tie the game at one after one.

Pina was strong for the rest of his outing. He picked off Bradlee Beesley to get through the second, worked around a two-out walk in the third, and induced another double play grounder from Murray in the fourth. In his second start of the season, Pina allowed one run on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

In the bottom of the frame, Rocket City took the lead for the first time. Jeremiah Jackson began the inning with his team-leading 14th home run of the season, a thunderous solo shot 446 feet over the Rocket City bullpen in left field. Tucker Flint followed with a towering home run of his own 391 feet to right, his seventh big fly of the season to put the Trash Pandas up 3-1 after four. The homers from Jackson and Flint marked the second set of back-to-back home runs for the Trash Pandas in 2023.

John Swanda (L, 0-3) was first out of the Rocket City bullpen and quickly pitched a clean fifth. But in the sixth, Tennessee turned the game around. Haydn McGeary's RBI double plated Levi Jordan to make it a one-run game and Murray followed with an RBI single to tie it at three. Murray was then caught stealing for the second out of the inning. However, Swanda hit Pablo Aliendo, walked the next two hitters, and was removed with two outs in the bases loaded.

Luke Murphy entered for the Trash Pandas with the game on the line. On his second pitch, Andy Weber laced a single to right, scoring two runs to put the Smokies in front. The ball got past Flint in right field, allowing another run to score. Looking to come all the way around and score, Weber was thrown out at the plate on a relay from right field, ending the inning with Tennessee in front 6-3.

The Trash Pandas loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning in a bid to get closer. They couldn't capitalize as Carlos Guzman struck out Calabrese and Paris to strand the bases loaded. In the seventh, Rocket City again loaded the bases with two outs, this time plating a run on Jose Gomez's walk to score Flint. Smokies reliever Zac Leigh limited the damage by striking out Bryce Teodosio to hold the lead at 6-4.

Murray's solo home run off Ivan Armstrong made it a 7-4 lead in the eighth. Owen Caissie added one more with an RBI single in the ninth. Luke Little and Danis Correa (S, 8) finished the win from there, throwing the final two innings to complete the victory.

Calabrese, Paris, and Jackson all recorded a pair of hits for the Trash Pandas in the loss. As a team, Rocket City went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position, stranding 15 on base.

The Trash Pandas (39-51, 8-13 second half) continue the series with the Smokies (52-38, 16-6 second half) on Wednesday night. First pitch at Toyota Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. The game will be televised locally on WAAY 31.6, This TV.

Wednesday night games are All You Can Eat Wednesdays. All tickets are specially priced to include an unlimited selection of food including hot dogs, burgers, fries, nachos, popcorn, and fountain drinks. Click HERE to learn more about All You Can Eat Wednesdays. Wednesday is also a Tito's Dog Day, where fans can bring their furry friends and sit with them on the Budweiser Berm. A $1 donation per dog is requested, benefitting the Greater Huntsville Humane Society. During the game as part of Wheels Up Wednesday, fans can enter to win a $250 flight voucher from Breeze Airways. The winner will be announced during the game.

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Southern League Stories from July 25, 2023


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