Rocket City's Bats Blast them to 7-2 Victory
Following the league-wide All-Star break, Birmingham returned to action on Friday to face their in-state rival, the Rocket City Trash Pandas. In the first half, Rocket City cruised to a northern division victory. In the second half, though, Birmingham's turned around their year by leading the standings thus far. However,
Following the league-wide All-Star break, Birmingham returned to action on Friday to face their in-state rival, the Rocket City Trash Pandas. In the first half, Rocket City cruised to a northern division victory. In the second half, though, Birmingham's turned around their year by leading the standings thus far. However, on Friday, the Pandas aimed to even things up and prove they're still the best team in the Southern League. With Jason Bilous on the mound for the Barons, though, that's no simple task.
Specifically, the right-handed pitcher dominates hitters with his nasty swing-and-miss material. So much so that the 25-year-old punched out six consecutive Pandas in the second and third inning. That said, sandwiched between those Ks, Bilous walked two, and a critical D.J. Burt fielding error extended the inning for Preston Palmeiro, who then ripped a clutch two-out, two-RBI single. In the next half, the Barons responded with a run of their own thanks to a Jose Rodriguez double, which extended his hitting streak to 11 games. From there, Oscar Colas and Raudy Read grounded out to bring Rodriguez home.
The floodgates opened in the fifth and sixth inning for Rocket City, as Bryce Teodosio started it off with a first-pitch no doubt home run, giving him 11 long balls on the year now. Later in the frame, Palmeiro added to his RBI total by roping a double into the left-center field gap. Similarly, in the sixth, Teodosio matched Palmeiro's double but, by doing so, scored two more Pandas. As a result, in a rather sudden manner, Rocket City jumped out to a devastating 7-1 lead. Additionally, the night ended for Jason Bilous after five innings of four-hit, four-run, albeit only two were earned, three walk, and eight strikeout baseball.
From then on, only two other mention-worthy events happened. Primarily, Vince Vannelle debuted in AA for the first time after going undrafted last year and flying up Chicago's farm system this year. His night ended with his first career AA strikeout as well. Then, in the eighth, Oscar Colas, fresh off of his Future Game appearance, drove in Birmingham's second and final run. Ultimately, the bullpen pitched well, but the early onslaught proved too great to overcome. Therefore, Birmingham and Rocket City sit in a tie atop the north division, but two more games this weekend will decide a lone leader.