Pitching, Power Pace Trash Pandas In 9-0 Win 

The Rocket City Trash Pandas got contributions from everyone in the lineup and four pitchers combined on a shutout, shutting down the Tennessee Smokies in a 9-0 victory in front of 7,741 at Smokies Stadium on Saturday night.

The Trash Pandas pitching combo of Brett Kerry, Luke Murphy, Kenyon Yovan, and Nathan Burns tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out 12 Smokies while walking just two. The three relievers combined to retire the final 10 hitters they faced in the Trash Pandas’ fourth shutout of the season and second of the series.

Kerry and Tennessee righty Joe Nahas (L, 0-2) matched each other zero for zero for the first two innings before the visitors broke through. Anthony Mulrine got the top of third started with a double down the left field line, his first extra base hit of the season for the Trash Pandas. Mariano Ricciardi followed with a sharp single to right, scoring Mulrine from second to open the scoring. The RBI was Ricciardi’s first since June 29.

Pitching with the lead for the first time, Kerry was stellar in the bottom of the third, striking out the side in order on an automatic strike three, a swinging strike out, and a called strike three to hold the lead. He then struck out the first two hitters he faced in a scoreless fourth.

The Trash Pandas then broke the game open in the fifth against the Smokies bullpen. One-out walks to David Calabrese and Kyren Paris got the inning started. Gabe Matthews added to the Trash Pandas’ advantage by crushing a three-run homer to right-center, his fourth of the season, to make it a 4-0 game. Sonny DiChiara kept the attack going with a double before the second out was recorded. Jose Gomez reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Tennessee turned to Braylin Marquez to replace Carlos Guzman, but the new reliever couldn’t get out of the jam.

The first batter Marquez faced, Bryce Teodosio, lined a triple into the right field corner, his first Double-A triple, to score DiChiara and Gomez for a 6-0 lead. Mulrine continued the onslaught with a two-run homer to left-center, his first of the season, to give the Trash Pandas an 8-0 advantage halfway through.

Kerry ended his start with a scoreless bottom of the fifth, working around a walk and a double to keep the Smokies at bay. In five scoreless innings, Kerry (W, 6-4) allowed just two hits and one walk, striking out eight to earn his team-leading sixth win of the season and second in as many starts.

Rocket City added one more in the sixth on an RBI ground out from Matthews to score Calabrese, who began the inning with a single to left.

Murphy was first out of the Rocket City bullpen and pitched a scoreless sixth, inducing a ground out from Pablo Aliendo to strand the bases loaded and keep the shutout alive. Yovan was next into the game and quickly retired the side in order in both the seventh and eighth. In his first appearance since being activated off the injured list, Burns finished the shutout with a clean bottom of the ninth.

At the plate, Matthews led the way for the Rocket City offense, going 2-for-5 with the home run and four RBI. Mulrine had his best offensive night of the season with two extra base hits and two RBI in a 2-for-5 game. From the leadoff spot, Calabrese was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Gomez tied a season-high in hits with a 3-for-5 game while Teodosio drove in a pair with a 1-for-5 night. All nine Rocket City starters reached with either a hit or a walk.

The Trash Pandas (52-60, 21-22 second half) and Smokies (64-49, 28-16 second half) wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Smokies Stadium is set for 1 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.