Early Homer Enough For Rocket City In 3-2 Victory

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – The Rocket City Trash Pandas started their series strong against the Birmingham Barons with a 3-2 road victory on Tuesday.

Designated hitter Eric Wagaman connected on a two-run homer in the first inning off Barons starting pitcher Drew Thorpe (L, 4-1). It’s Wagaman’s first home run as a Trash Panda and it comes off his former teammate from his time with the Somerset Patriots in 2023.

Neither side would add on until the seventh when, now against the Barons bullpen, infielder Kyren Paris drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Silent against Rocket City starter Victor Mederos through six, Birmingham cracked the scoreboard in the seventh as outfielder Duke Ellis singled in two runs.

Mederos (W, 1-2) had his best start with 6.2 innings pitched and four strikeouts while allowing just five hits.

The Rocket City bullpen kept the one-run lead with scoreless outings from Eric Torres and Michael Darrell-Hicks (S, 2).

With the win, the Trash Pandas now trail by just two games for the top spot in the Southern League North division.

The Trash Pandas will have an early turnaround on Wednesday as they look for three straight wins. First pitch against the Barons slated for 11:00 a.m. Josh Caray will have the call on WZZN 97.7-HD2.

Probable Starters: Jack Kochanowicz (RCT) vs. Jairo Iriarte (BIR)