SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Wild Pitches Haunt Trash Pandas in 4-3 Loss

Published on August 16, 2023 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


KODAK, Tennessee - The Rocket City Trash Pandas bullpen's control became erratic when it mattered most, throwing four wild pitches in one inning to turn a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 loss to the Tennessee Smokies in the second game of their six-game series on Wednesday night at Smokies Stadium.

Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Rocket City reliever Jake Lee returned for his third inning of work. Levi Jordan began the inning with a single to center and advanced to third on two wild pitches from Lee. Owen Caissie walked as well to put runners on the corners. Kelvin Caceres entered the game for the Trash Pandas and immediately threw a wild pitch of his own, allowing Jordan to score the tying run. Caceres got the first out of the inning before throwing another wild pitch, this time allowing Caissie to score the go-ahead run.

Rocket City looked to fight back in the ninth against Smokies closer Zac Leigh (S, 2). Bryce Teodosio reached with a two-out walk and stole second. Down to their last out, the Trash Pandas sent pinch-hitter Gabe Matthews to the plate. Leigh struck him out swinging on a full count, ending the come from behind win for Tennessee.

For the second straight game, the Trash Pandas opened the scoring with the help of a Tennessee mistake in the first. With one out, Kyren Paris crushed a double off the wall in left center. The throw back to the infield from left fielder Jordan Nwogu was array for an error, letting Paris advance to third. Two hitters later, Sonny DiChiara lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Paris with the first run of the night.

Trash Pandas starter Robinson Pina cruised through the first two innings, retiring the first six hitter he faced to maintain the lead. Rocket City again took advantage of a Smokies mistake to add another run in the third. David Calabrese reached on a one-out walk. Smokies starter Cade Horton looked to pick Calabrese off first. But his throw was missed by first baseman Haydn McGeary for an error, allowing Paris to advance all the way to third. Two hitters later, Nolan Schanuel laced an RBI single to right for a 2-0 Trash Pandas lead.

Tennessee rebounded to even the score in the fourth. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Pina then struck out Jordan for out number two. But Owen Caissie tied the game with a two-run single to center to bring the Smokies level.

From there, Pina and Horton traded zeroes to get through the fifth with the score still tied. For the Trash Pandas, Pina allowed two earned runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Horton also pitched five innings, giving up two unearned runs on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Lee (L, 0-1) was first out of the Trash Pandas bullpen and pitched a scoreless sixth. Rocket City restored the lead with a clutch hit in the seventh. Teodosio walked and Mac McCroskey singled to put runners on the corners with two out. McCroskey stole second to put a pair in scoring position. Calabrese then lined a single to right, scoring Teodosio from third with the go-ahead run. But a strong throw from Caissie in right nailed McCroskey at the plate trying to score the fourth Trash Pandas run. Lee held the lead in the seventh before the game unraveled for the Trash Pandas bullpen in the eighth.

Offensively, Rocket City was held to just five hits, with Paris' 20th double of the season was the only extra-base hit of the night for the visitors.

The Trash Pandas (50-59, 19-21 second half) continue the series against the Smokies (63-46, 27-14 second half) on Thursday night. First pitch at Smokies Stadium is set for 6 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 August 16, 2023


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