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Early Deficit Dooms Trash Pandas in 11-3 Loss

Wilson hits sixth home run of season in defeat against Chattanooga
June 4, 2021

MADISON, Alabama – The Rocket City Trash Pandas fell behind early and the offense was held in check for most of the night in an 11-3 loss to the Chattanooga Lookouts in front of a spirited crowd of 7,102 on Friday night at Toyota Field. The loss evens the six-game

MADISON, Alabama – The Rocket City Trash Pandas fell behind early and the offense was held in check for most of the night in an 11-3 loss to the Chattanooga Lookouts in front of a spirited crowd of 7,102 on Friday night at Toyota Field. The loss evens the six-game series at two games apiece.

In the top of the first, an incredible play by the Rocket City defense led to a Chattanooga run. With one out and a runner at third, Wilson Garcia hit a foul pop up to the left side. Trash Pandas third baseman Mitch Nay ran to the railing and reached into the stands to make an amazing catch. But Leonardo Rivas alertly tagged up from third and scored the first run of the night.

Chuckie Robinson added to the lead with a solo home run in the second before a Trash Pandas fielding error scored two more runs to double the Chattanooga lead to 4-0 in the top of the third against Rocket City starter Jake Lee (L, 1-3).

Lee finished with four runs against, one earned, on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 4.0 innings and was saddled with the loss.

Oliver Ortega entered in relief for Rocket City and struggled in the sixth as Yoel Yanqui’s single scored two runs before a bases-loaded double from Robbie Tenerowicz cleared the bases to make it 10-0 Chattanooga.

Pitching with the lead from the start, Chattanooga starter Hunter Greene (W, 4-0) was dominant from his first pitch. With a fastball that reached as high as 102 miles per hour, Greene kept the Trash Pandas off the board for the first six innings.

In the seventh, Izzy Wilson launched a 442-foot three-run home run to right, his sixth of the season to tie for the team lead and get Rocket City on the board. During his home run trot, Wilson exchanged words with Tenerowicz at third base. Tempers flared and the benches cleared, with Tenerowicz, Wilson, and Trash Pandas manager Jay Bell all ejected from the game.

Greene earned the win for the Lookouts by giving up three runs on seven hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

At the plate for Rocket City, Orlando Martinez went 3-for-4 while David MacKinnon’s 12-game hitting streak was snapped in a 0-for-4 performance.

Ryan Clark gave up one run over 2.2 relief innings and Kieran Lovegrove threw 2.0 scoreless frames to finish the night on the mound for the Trash Pandas.

The Trash Pandas (12-16) continue their series with the Lookouts (17-11) on Saturday night. First pitch at Toyota Field is set for 6:35 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. The game will also be televised locally on WAAY-31.6, This TV.