Trash Pandas Reclaim First Place With 10-4 Victory Over Barons

MADISON, AL — The Rocket City Trash Pandas (20-17, 55-50) used a four-RBI night from Cole Fontenelle and scored seven runs over the final four innings to pull away for a 10-4 victory over the Birmingham Barons (16-21, 42-64) on Friday night at Toyota Field. The Trash Pandas have won six of their last seven games and took a 3-1 lead in the six-game series while moving back into sole possession of first place in the Southern League North Division second-half standings, one game ahead of Knoxville.

Birmingham jumped in front for the second straight night, scoring twice against Kyle Robinson, who made his Trash Pandas debut after being acquired by the Angels in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. Dylan Campbell led off the game with a single before Caleb Bonemer doubled to put two runners in scoring position. After Robinson recorded back-to-back strikeouts, Colby Shelton and Ryan Burrowes delivered consecutive two-out RBI singles to give the Barons a 2-0 lead.

Rocket City immediately answered in the bottom of the first. Nick Rodriguez and Eddie Micheletti Jr. drew consecutive walks before Tucker Flint singled to right, scoring Rodriguez and cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Trash Pandas grabbed the lead an inning later. Jake Thompson opened the second with a walk before Fontenelle launched a two-run home run to right field, his third of the season, putting Rocket City ahead 3-2.

Robinson settled in after the two-run first and kept Birmingham off the board over his final three innings. The right-hander worked around three singles and a walk in the second, getting Bonemer on a fielder's choice at the plate before escaping the bases-loaded jam. He followed with a perfect third and stranded a two-out double in the fourth. Robinson finished his Rocket City debut allowing two runs on seven hits over 4.0 innings, walking one and striking out five.

Birmingham tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth when Bonemer opened the inning with a solo home run off Carlos Espinosa (W, 3-1), but Rocket City responded with its biggest inning of the night.

Flint started the bottom of the fifth with a double to right, and Caleb Bartolero walked before Jacob Cozart lined an RBI single to left to put the Trash Pandas back in front, 4-3. After Juan Flores walked to load the bases, Jake Thompson reached on a fielder's choice before Fontenelle doubled to right to plate Cozart and Flores, extending the advantage to 6-3. Mac McCroskey followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Thompson and giving Rocket City a 7-3 lead.

The Barons got a run back in the sixth on Jose Colmenares' RBI single, but the Trash Pandas again answered with three runs in the seventh. Cozart and Flores opened the inning with consecutive singles before Fontenelle reached on a fielder's choice, and an error allowed Cozart to score. Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Flores, and Micheletti capped the inning with an RBI single to center, pushing the lead to 10-4.

Chris Cortez worked around a pair of walks with two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh before Lucas Mahlstedt slammed the door with two hitless innings. Mahlstedt struck out five of the eight batters he faced, including all three in the ninth.

Fontenelle finished 2-for-4 with a double, home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. The third baseman, who was a late addition to the lineup for the second consecutive night, has driven in six runs over the last two games. Cozart went 2-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored and a walk, while Flint added two hits, including his 20th double, an RBI and a run scored.

Rocket City finished with 10 hits and drew eight walks while reaching double figures in runs for the seventh time this season. The Trash Pandas pitching staff struck out 15 Barons, with Cortez and Mahlstedt combining for seven strikeouts over three hitless innings to finish the game.

The Trash Pandas and Barons continue their series on Saturday night at Toyota Field. RHP Tyler Bremner, the Angels' first-round selection in 2025 (2^nd overall), will make his Trash Pandas debut against LHP Shane Murphy (2-0, 3.57) for the Barons. Fans can watch on Angels Broadcast Television (ABTV), Bally Sports Live, MiLB.TV, or MLB.TV, with local coverage also airing on WAAY-TV Ch. 31.6. The game can be heard on ESPN 97.7 The Zone and Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 FM HD-2.

Saturday's Promotions:

• Saturday Night Fireworks: Cap off the evening with a spectacular Space Night Fireworks show, presented by SAIC.
• Space Night: Blast off for an out-of-this-world evening featuring space-themed entertainment throughout Toyota Field, plus an exclusive Marvin the Martian jersey available for purchase at The Junkyard while supplies last.
• Space Jersey Auction: The Trash Pandas will wear specialty Space jerseys that will be auctioned online to benefit The Caring Link, a North Alabama nonprofit that provides resources and support to children and families in need. Fans can bid at milbauctions.com or text 888-208-9695. Bidding begins at $100 with $25 increments.

Tickets are available at TPTix.com. Fans can book a group outing for the 2026 season by visiting trashpandasgroups.com or by calling the group sales department directly at (256) 325-1403, option 2. A complete promotional schedule for the season can be found HERE.

Fans are reminded that Toyota Field follows MiLB's clear bag policy. Guests are allowed one clear bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. Small, clear clutches are also permitted. Exceptions will be made for medical needs and parents with infants (diaper bags). Learn more about this policy here.

ABOUT THE ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS

Owned and operated by BallCorps, LLC, the Rocket City Trash Pandas are the proud Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Southern League. The Trash Pandas play at state-of-the-art Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama. The organization's mission is to unite our communities by creating positive and lasting memories one experience at a time.