Trash Pandas Double Dip Barons

Rocket City outfielders Tucker Flint and Bryce Teodosio each went 3-7 with a single, double and homer as the Trash Pandas swept a doubleheader from the Birmingham Barons Wednesday night at Regions Field. The Trash Pandas won an improbable game one 9-7 in eight innings before taking the night cap 3-2. Flint finished with five RBI while Teodosio drove in three.

In game one, Rocket City got an inside-the-park three-run homerun from shortstop Kyren Paris and a three-run go ahead shot from Flint in the eighth to win 9-7 in eight innings.

The Trash Pandas got the scoring started in the fourth as designated hitter Sonny DiChiara delivered a two-out single into left, scoring rightfielder David Calabrese from second.

That was just the beginning of the fun as the Barons exploded for six runs in the sixth. A bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Barons shortstop Colson Montgomery tied the game, before Trash Pandas reliever Kelvin Caceres issued a bases loaded walk to second baseman Jose Rodriguez to give the Barons the lead. Reliever Ivan Armstrong came in next for Rocket City and gave up a grand slam to third baseman Bryan Ramos to straightaway centerfield to put Birmingham up 6-1.

However, in the seventh, Rocket City got a two-run homerun to left from Teodosio to pull to within three. With two outs, back-to-back walks from Birmingham reliever Garrett Schoenle followed, which set the stage for Paris who shot a three-run inside the park homerun past a diving Terrell Tatum in centerfield to knot the game at six.

After Rocket City escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh Flint provided the heroics in the eighth with a three-run blast to right to make the score 9-6 Trash Pandas. It was his fifth homer this season against Birmingham as he finished the evening with 20 RBI for the season against the Barons. Armstrong allowed an unearned run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom-half to make the final 9-7.

The Trash Pandas had eight hits for the game with Teodosio finishing 2-4 with his two-run dinger, while DiChiara went 2-4 with two singles and an RBI. Armstrong got the win for Rocket City by going 2.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with a walk.

Lost in the mayhem was a fine outing from Trash Pandas starting pitcher Jake Lee who tossed five innings of shutout baseball on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

In game two, Rocket City again jumped ahead on an RBI double in the first from Flint to go ahead 1-0. Birmingham responded on a two-run shot from leftfielder Luis Mieses to take a 2-1 lead. The Trash Pandas, however, responded with single runs in the third and fourth innings on a Flint RBI single and an RBI double from first baseman Gabe Matthews.

Reliever Erik Martinez was the story of the second game. Making his AA debut, the right-hander tossed four innings of shutout baseball on one hit with four strikeouts to garner the win. Flint finished 2-3 for the second game with a single, double and two RBI.

It was Rocket City’s first sweep of a doubleheader since 5/27/22 when they swept the Smokies at Toyota Field.

The Trash Pandas (45-53, 14-15 second half) continue their series with the Barons Thursday night. First pitch at Regions Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call on SportsRadio 730 AM and 103.9 FM THE UMP.