Trash Pandas Bullpen Shuts Out Smokies 6-0
Four Rocket City Trash Pandas relief pitchers combined to pitch a four-hit shutout after their starter was a late scratch, blanking the Tennessee Smokies in a 6-0 victory in the third game of a six-game series on Thursday night at Smokies Stadium. The Trash Pandas pitching quartet of Ivan Armstrong,
Four Rocket City Trash Pandas relief pitchers combined to pitch a four-hit shutout after their starter was a late scratch, blanking the Tennessee Smokies in a 6-0 victory in the third game of a six-game series on Thursday night at Smokies Stadium.
The Trash Pandas pitching quartet of Ivan Armstrong, Jack Dashwood, Erik Martinez, and Kenyon Yovan combined to allow just four singles, walk two, and strike out 10 in the third Rocket City shutout of the season.
Making his second spot start of the season, Armstrong was efficient early, inducing double plays to work around baserunners in each of the first two innings.
The Trash Pandas offense struck first in the top of the third on a solo home run from David Calabrese on a towering blast to right, his 12th homer of the season for a 1-0 lead against Smokies starter Brandon Birdsell (L, 1-1).
The visitors used the long ball to add on in the third. Jose Gomez started the frame with a leadoff home run to left, his fifth of the season to double the lead. Gabe Matthews followed with a solo home run of his own to right-center, his third of the season, giving the Trash Pandas a 3-0 lead with back-to-back home runs.
Armstrong ended his night on the mound with two strikeouts in a scoreless fourth to strand runners on first and second. He pitched four clean innings, allowing just one single and walking two while striking out four.
Dashwood (W, 1-0) was first out of the Rocket City bullpen and allowed only a one-out single in the fifth before striking out two in the sixth for two scoreless innings of his own with three strikeouts. He would earn the victory for his strong work out of the bullpen.
In the top of the seventh, the Trash Pandas doubled the lead with a two-out rally. Calabrese took a walk to keep the inning alive off reliever Adam Laskey. Riley Martin was next into the game for the Smokies. Kyren Paris took a walk of his own to put two on with two out. Nolan Schanuel drove in Calabrese with an RBI double to the gap in left-center. Tucker Flint then lined a single to right, plating Paris and Schanuel for a 6-0 Rocket City edge.
Martinez was next into the game from the Rocket City bullpen. He allowed just a single in the seventh before a one, two, three bottom of the eighth, striking out three over two scoreless innings.
Tennessee threatened in the ninth, putting two on with one out on a single and an error. Yovan rebounded to induce a game-ending double play ground out from Pablo Aliendo to finish the shutout victory.
Offensively, the three solo home runs powered the offense to a lead before the RBI hits from Schanuel and Flint gave the Trash Pandas insurance. Calabrese finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Schanuel and Matthews each went 2-for-4 with an RBI. The shutout on the mound is the Trash Pandas’ first since April 14 at Birmingham.
The Trash Pandas (51-59, 20-21 second half) continue the series against the Smokies (63-47, 27-15 second half) on Friday 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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