Trash Pandas drop 3-game series to Shuckers in Biloxi, heading to Pensacola
By CALEB ODOM
BILOXI, MISS. – It was a lighter week for the Rocket City Trash Pandas with four days off to rest up before a 3-game set on the road against the Biloxi Shuckers.
The Trash Pandas (7-6) are currently tied for second place in the Southern League North standings with The Chattanooga Lookouts (8-7) while the Tennessee Smokies (10-5) continue to lead the way.
Both Rocket City and Chattanooga are two games behind Tennessee as of Monday afternoon.
The Birmingham Barons resides in the fourth-place position in the SLN 4 1/2 games out of first with a 5-9 record.
July 14: Rocket City 8, Biloxi 7
The first game of the series was a high-scoring contest, but Rocket City was able to edge out the Shuckers (6-8) despite being out-hit nine hits to seven in the game.
Biloxi took an early 1-0 advantage when Tyler Black hit a solo home run to left field.
The Trash Pandas struck back in the top of the third inning with a trio of runs to take the 3-1 lead.
The offensive surge began when Kyren Paris hit a sacrifice fly that scored teammate Tucker Flint.
Jeremiah Jackson’s 2-run single plated Jose Gomez and David Calabrese.
The Shuckers pulled within a run in the bottom of the third inning when Jackson Chourio clubbed his 12th home run of the year to make the score 3-2 Rocket City.
It was the top of the fourth inning when Jose Gomez knocked in Tucker Flint to expand the Trash Panda lead to 4-2 with another run.
Rocket City had seemingly pulled away in this game with four more runs in the top of the eighth inning to lead 8-2, but a late charge by the Shuckers in the bottom of the ninth inning made this game suspenseful until the end.
Biloxi was able to tally five runs in the ninth, but that would be all the club could put together as the Shuckers fell one run shy of tying the game up.
July 15: Biloxi 1, Rocket City 0
The Saturday game featured far less offense as Biloxi scored one run in the bottom of the first inning to defeat the Trash Pandas.
It was a line-drive home run to left field by Jeferson Quero that made all the difference for the Shuckers.
Biloxi turned to starting pitcher Carlos Rodriguez who provided his club with five scoreless innings of 2-hit ball that included nine strikeouts and three walks.
Despite being on the losing side, Rocket City starting pitcher Victor Mederos did little to hang his head about going six innings where he allowed just one run on five hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts.
July 16: Biloxi 7, Rocket City 3
The Shuckers were able to put on a hit parade in the Sunday finale to take the condensed 3-game series with a pair of victories.
The third game was driven by a 5-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning for Biloxi that turned a narrow 2-1 Shuckers lead into a 6-1 edge.
Isaac Collins’ 3-run home run in the fourth powered the Shuckers into the driver’s seat of this game.
With time running out, the Trash Pandas mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth with a home run by Bryce Teodosio to left center that made the score 7-3, but it would not be enough.
Rocket City continues its road trip this week with a series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (7-8).
The Tuesday through Thursday games begin at 6:35 p.m. while the Saturday contest starts at 6:05 p.m.
The Sunday game is slated to begin at 4:05 p.m.
