Trash Pandas Squander Chances In 6-1 Loss
Despite multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position, the Rocket City Trash Pandas couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most, suffering a 6-1 loss to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the fifth game of their six-game series in front of 5,843 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. As a team, the
Despite multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position, the Rocket City Trash Pandas couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most, suffering a 6-1 loss to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the fifth game of their six-game series in front of 5,843 at Toyota Field on Saturday night.
As a team, the Trash Pandas left 13 runners on base in the loss, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
In his Toyota Field debut, Rocket City righty Michael Darrell-Hicks got off to a great start, throwing just seven pitches to set the Blue Wahoos down in order in the top of the first. He s the Blue Wahoos down in order in the second before working around a walk and a single in a scoreless third. Pensacola put runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth. However, Darrell-Hicks got through the jam by striking out Cobie Fletcher-Vance to end the inning.
Pensacola starter Evan Fitterer worked around baserunners all night. The Trash Pandas loaded the bases with one out in the second before a strikeout and a fly out got Fitterer through the jam. Two innings later, the Trash Pandas again loaded the bases, this time with two outs. Fitterer struck out Adrian Placencia to end the inning with the scoreless tie intact.
In the top of the fifth, the Blue Wahoos put runners on first and second with one out for Will Banfield. After hitting five foul balls, Banfield connected on the ninth pitch of the at-bat for a three-run homer to left, opening the scoring with his 22nd home run of the season.
The home run would come on Darrell-Hicks’ final pitch of the night. Over 4.1 innings, he allowed three earned runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts to take the loss. Fitterer pitched four scoreless innings for the visitors, allowing one hit while walking five and striking out six.
Rocket City got a run back in the bottom of the frame. A single from Arol Vera and a walk to D’Shawn Knowles put two on with one out. Bryce Teodosio got the Trash Pandas on the board with a single to center, plating Vera to make it 3-1. The Trash Pandas again loaded the bases in a bid to get even. But Blue Wahoos reliever Chandler Jozwiak (W, 1-0) struck out Mac McCroskey to preserve the lead. Jozwiak would earn the win with 1.2 relief innings on the mound.
Pensacola pulled away in the top of the seventh, as a throwing error from Placencia allowed two runs to score before an RBI single from Norel Gonzalez made it 6-1. In long relief, Breidy Encarnacion (S, 1) pitched the last 3.1 innings in his Double-A debut to finish the win and earn the save.
Vera was the only Rocket City player to record more than one hit, going 2-for-5 with a run scored as the Trash Pandas’ losing streak reached a season-high six games.
The Trash Pandas (57-74, 26-36 second half) wrap up the series against the Blue Wahoos (75-54, 34-27 second half) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:35 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.