Smokies Home Runs Sink Trash Pandas In 10-5 Loss
A barrage of home runs from the Tennessee Smokies was too much for the Rocket City Trash Pandas to overcome in a 10-5 loss to the Tennessee Smokies on Friday night at Smokies Stadium. Rocket City starter Victor Mederos struggled from the outset. The third hitter of the game, BJ
A barrage of home runs from the Tennessee Smokies was too much for the Rocket City Trash Pandas to overcome in a 10-5 loss to the Tennessee Smokies on Friday night at Smokies Stadium.
Rocket City starter Victor Mederos struggled from the outset. The third hitter of the game, BJ Murray, connected on a two-run homer to right, his 15th of the season, to open the scoring.
The Trash Pandas got one back in the top of the second against Smokies starter Walker Powell. Sonny DiChiara began the inning with a ground ball double down the left field line, advanced to third on a ground out from Tucker Flint, and came in to score on Jose Gomez’s RBI ground out to third to cut the Tennessee lead in half. Tennessee immediately restored the two-run lead on a solo homer from Jordan Nwogu in the bottom of the frame.
Tennessee continued to add on in the fourth with a two-run home run from Cole Roederer. Again, the Trash Pandas got a run closer in the fifth in a similar fashion. Flint started the inning with a double, advanced to third on a fly out, and scored on Tyler Payne’s RBI ground out to third.
Leading 5-2, the Smokies pulled away in the bottom of the inning. Levi Jordan and Murray began the inning with singles against Mederos. Haydn McGeary followed with a long three-run blast to left-center, giving the Smokies their biggest lead of the night at 8-2.
Mederos (L, 4-8) pitched 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits including four home runs while walking two and striking out three to take the loss. Powell (W, 10-5) earned the win with a quality start for the Smokies, allowing two runs on two hits with eight strikeouts in six innings.
The Trash Pandas fought to get back into the game in the eighth against Tennessee reliever Hunter Bigge. Singles by Bryce Teodosio and David Calabrese were followed by a walk to Kyren Paris, loading the bases with one out. Gabe Matthews then took a walk of his own to score Teoodsio. The Smokies then replaced Bigge with Blake Whitney on the mound. He got the second out with a fly out from DiChiara. Flint connected with a single to right to score a pair, but was thrown out trying to advance to second, ending the inning with the Trash Pandas down 8-5.
In relief of Mederos, Houston Harding was called on for long relief and was sharp early to keep the Smokies off the board. But with two outs in the eighth, Nwogu provided insurance for the Smokies with his second home run of the night to increase the lead to 10-5. Whitney (S, 4) finished the Tennessee win with a scoreless top of the ninth.
Offensively, Flint went 3-for-4 with a run, a double, and two RBI to lead the Rocket City offense while Paris was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored to extend his on-base streak to 20 games. All 10 of the Tennessee runs came on home runs, with the five given up by the Trash Pandas marking a new season-high.
The Trash Pandas (51-60, 20-22 second half) and Smokies (64-47, 28-15 second half) continue the series on Saturday night. First pitch at Smokies Stadium is set for 6 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.