Trash Pandas Storm Past Barons 12-6

MADISON, Alabama – The Rocket City Trash Pandas broke a close game open with a seven-run bottom of the fifth inning, using a persistent plate presence and a solid start on the mound to defeat the Birmingham Barons 12-6 in the second game of their six-game series on Wednesday night at Toyota Field.

With the win, the Trash Pandas’ magic number to clinch the second-half Southern League North Division title is one, as they currently lead Tennessee by three and a half games with four remaining in the regular season.

Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, the Rocket City offense went to work. Sonny DiChiara began the inning by getting hit by a pitch from Birmingham reliever Trey Jeans. Jordyn Adams also was hit by a pitch and Aaron Whitefield reached on catcher’s interference to load the bases. Livan Soto tied the game with a walk in an eight-pitch at-bat. Zach Neto followed by getting hit by a pitch to give the Trash Pandas their first lead of the night at 3-2.

Yoelvin Silven entered from the Barons bullpen and immediately walked Logan O’Hoppe to plate another run. Ryan Aguilar connected on the first Rocket City hit of the inning, a two-run single to center for his first hit since returning from the Angels. The next hitter, Kevin Maitan, launched a high drive down the right-field line that just stayed fair over the foul pole for a two-run homer, his 10th of the season, and a 8-2 Trash Pandas lead.

Pitching with the lead for the first time, Bachman (W, 1-1) allowed two runs in the sixth but navigated around further damage to end his longest professional outing. Over six innings, he allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits, striking out five to pick up his first professional victory.

Rocket City responded in the bottom of the sixth, with Soto’s RBI single scoring Kyren Paris.

Kolton Ingram was first out of the Rocket City bullpen and pitched a scoreless seventh. He walked Oscar Colas to start the eighth, and that would end his night. Aaron Hernandez entered, and the Barons rallied for two runs to make it a 9-6 game. Eric Torres was called on with the tying run at the plate and struck out J.J. Muno to end the threat in the eighth.

In the bottom of the inning, the Trash Pandas rallied for three more runs to put the game out of reach for good. Whitefield’s two-run double to deep center scored Paris and Adams. O’Hoppe capped the scoring with a double off the wall in left-center, plating Whitefield to double the score at 12-6 Trash Pandas.

Torres (S, 21) returned to the mound in the ninth and struck out the side in order to finish the win and earn the save, his 21st of the season to tie the Angels Double-A single-season saves record, set by Jose Musset in 1993.

At the plate, all nine Trash Pandas reached with either a hit or a walk and eight scored a run. Soto was the only one to record a multi-hit game in a 2-for-3 performance with two RBI while Adams scored three times, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch. Whitefield, O’Hoppe, Aguilar, and Maitan all drove in a pair in the win.

The Trash Pandas (78-56, 37-28 second half) continue their series with the Barons (60-74, 29-36 second half) on Thursday 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.

Thursday is Huntsville Stars Throwback Night, as the Trash Pandas will wear specialty Stars themed throwback jerseys for the first time, presented by Trustmark. The game worn, autographed jerseys will be auctioned online, and fans can bid on their favorite player’s jersey by texting ‘huntsvillestars’ to 76278 and by visiting huntsvillestars.givesmart.com. The jersey auction will begin at 3 p.m. and conclude at the end of the seventh inning. Proceeds will benefit Kids To Love and the Rocket City Trash Pandas Foundation. Former Huntsville Stars players Hunter Morris, Francisco Matos, Jimmy Jones, and Kevin MacLeod will be on hand to throw the first pitch and take part in a meet-and-greet on the concourse.