De Avila deals a complete game shutout in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader split with Rocket City 

MADISON, ALA (June 15, 2024) — Mississippi Braves starter Luis De Avila tossed a complete-game shutout against the Rocket City Trash Pandas in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, securing a 9-0 victory, clinching the series. The M-Braves dropped the first game 6-3. Tyler Tolve, Brandon Parker, and Bryson Horne hit home runs in the two games on Saturday night.

The M-Braves' (28-33) pitching staff has two shutouts in their last three games, and De Avila (W, 1-8) joined Ian Mejia, Hurston Waldrep, and Spencer Shwellenbach as starters that have gone the distance this season. The 23-year-old left-hander struck out six and walked one, scattering six hits in his 12th start of the season.

De Avila had been snakebit with the worst run support among starters, but that changed in game two on Saturday. Mississippi jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and ran Rocket City starter Victor Mederos (L, 4-4) from the game after 1/3 of an inning. Justin Dean and Geraldo Quintero were hit by pitches, and Keshawn Ogans hit an RBI single to start the scoring. Sebastian Rivero smashed a two-run double to push the lead to 3-0. Valdes singled, and then Mederos issued back-to-back walks to Cal Conley and Parker to force in a run and make it 4-0.

Parker continued his June tear with his fourth home run this month and sixth on the year in the bottom of the third inning. The two-run shot pushed the lead to 6-0.

Dean was a menace for Rocket City. The Mauldin, SC native, singled to begin the bottom of the fourth, stole second and third and scored on a wild throw to make it 7-0. Horne capped off the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning with an opposite-field two-run shot, and it was 9-0.

David Fletcher (L, 0-1) started the first game of the twin bill and cruised through 5.0 innings at Toyota Field. The M-Braves handed the knuckleballer a 2-0 lead with runs in the fourth and fifth. Geraldo Quintero hit a triple that scored Conley in the fourth inning, and Yolbert Sanchez brought home Cody Milligan in the fifth.

The Trash Pandas sent seven to the plate against Fletcher in the sixth inning and took a 4-2 lead. After the first two batters reached, Tucker Flint hit a three-run home run to break Fletcher's shutout bid. The next two batters singled, and Tyler Payne brought home the fourth run with a sacrifice fly.

The 30-year-old Fletcher finished his third start with 6.0 innings pitched, four earned runs allowed on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Tolve wouldn't let the Braves go down quietly. The catcher blasted a solo home run to start the bottom of the sixth, trimming the lead to 4-3. Rocket City tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to push to score to 6-3. Jack Kochonowicz (W, 2-6) worked 6.0 innings for the win, and Michael Darrell-Hicks (7) secured his seventh save in game one.

The M-Braves and Trash Pandas conclude the five-game series on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Field. The first pitch is set for 12:05 pm with LHP Jake McSteen (1-0, 3.95) starting for Mississippi against RHP Chase Chaney (3-5, 5.19) for Rocket City. Coverage begins at 11:50 am on 102.1 The Box, Bally Live, and MiLB.tv.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at trashpandasbaseball.com. All proceeds benefit the Rocket City Trash Pandas Foundation.