Trash Pandas Bounce Back Against Lookouts With 5-2 Victory

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee – The Rocket City Trash Pandas evened up their series against the Lookouts with a 5-2 win at AT&T Field on Friday night.

Right-hander Sam Bachman took the mound for Rocket City in his second start after returning from injury. The top-ranked Angels prospect threw 49 pitches over 2.1 innings, surrendering one run while striking out four and walking three hitters.

Chattanooga grabbed the lead immediately in the bottom of the first, as Nick Quintana singled home Mike Siani to make it 1-0. However, the Trash Pandas responded with an equalizing solo home run from Preston Palmeiro in the top of the fourth.

Right-handed reliever Jimmy Herget tossed two scoreless innings as he continued his Major League rehab assignment for the Angels.

The Trash Pandas would take the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Kevin Maitan drew a walk with two outs, and then Lookouts catcher Daniel Vellojin sailed a pickoff attempt into right field. Maitan initially stopped at second but Chattanooga continued to fumble the baseball, allowing him to score all the way from first.

Ryan Aguilar tacked on to the advantage in the seventh, delivering a two-run double to give him a fourth straight multi-hit game in the series. In the eighth inning, Livan Soto lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to make it a 5-1 contest.

Chattanooga would scratch across a run off Braden Olthoff in the bottom of the eighth, but Nick Jones dealt a perfect inning to close it out for his first Double-A save.

The Trash Pandas (54-40, 13-12 second half) continue their series with the Chattanooga Lookouts (40-54, 6-19 second half) on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. at AT&T Field. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.