Trash Pandas Come Back With 5-4 Walk Off Win
When the Rocket City Trash Pandas needed a clutch moment at the plate, Mac McCroskey used his eyes to power the home team to victory, taking a walk-off walk in the bottom of the tenth to cap a thrilling 5-4 win over the Birmingham Barons on Friday night at Toyota
When the Rocket City Trash Pandas needed a clutch moment at the plate, Mac McCroskey used his eyes to power the home team to victory, taking a walk-off walk in the bottom of the tenth to cap a thrilling 5-4 win over the Birmingham Barons on Friday night at Toyota Field.
Tied at four going to the tenth inning, the Trash Pandas turned to Kelvin Caceres to begin extra innings. A wild pitch moved automatic runner Jose Rodriguez to third with one out. Bryan Ramos then hit a ground ball to third base, where Trash Pandas third baseman Jose Gomez fielded and threw to catcher Tyler Payne, who tagged Rodriguez out to keep the score tied. Caceres (W, 5-1) ended the inning with a strikeout of Wilfred Veras to keep the score tied.
Payne started the bottom of the inning with a single to put runners on first and third. Bryce Teodosio then walked to load the bases. McCroskey worked the count full before taking Jared Kelley’s (L, 0-2) seventh pitch high for ball four, giving the Trash Pandas the victory on a walk-off walk. The walk-off is the first of McCroskey’s professional career and the seventh for the Trash Pandas this season.
The game didn’t begin as well as it ended for Rocket City. For the fourth consecutive game, the Barons were the ones to open the scoring. Singles from Tim Elko and Alsander Womack put runners on the corners with one out against Trash Pandas righty Brett Kerry. Luis Mieses lifted a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Elko to score the first run of the night.
Rocket City quickly got the run back in the third off Barons starter Matt Thompson. Kyren Paris kept the inning alive with a two-out walk and promptly stole second. Gabe Matthews followed with an RBI single to right to right, plating Paris to even the score at one.
The Barons restored the lead in the fourth. With runners on the corners and one out, Mieses hit his second sacrifice fly of the game, this time to center, to score Elko with the go-ahead run. Yoelqui Cespedes then gave the Barons their biggest lead of the night with a two-run homer to left, his eighth of the season, to make it 4-1 Barons.
Kerry pitched a scoreless top of the sixth to end his night. In a quality start, Kerry allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The Rocket City offense made sure their starter didn’t suffer the loss. Thompson departed after five innings for the Barons, giving up one run on two hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Kenyon Yovan was first out of the Trash Pandas bullpen and set the Barons down in order. In the bottom of the frame, the Rocket City offense went to work against Barons reliever Chase Plymell.
D’Shawn Knowles began the inning with a single, Paris reached on catcher’s interference, and a double steal put the runners at second and third with two outs. With Tucker Flint at the plate, Barons catcher Edgar Quero attempted to pick off Knowles from third. But his throw was off the mark and went into left field, allowing Knowles to score. Flint walked to keep the inning going. Payne laced a single to left to score Paris and make it 4-3. Teodosio also walked to load the bases with two outs. Birmingham turned to Haylen Green out of the bullpen. His 1-2 pitch to McCroskey deflected off Quero’s glove for a passed ball, giving Flint the opportunity he needed to score the tying run.
New Trash Pandas reliever Jack Dashwood pitched a clean top of the eighth and Green did the same in the bottom half. The pair of lefties matched each other again in a scoreless ninth, sending the game to extra innings, where the Trash Pandas emerged victorious.
Offensively, Payne went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Trash Pandas while McCroskey went 0-for-2, taking three walks and driving in the winning run in the tenth. Knowles went 2-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases from the leadoff spot while Paris extended his on-base streak to 26 games, going 0-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases, and two runs.
The Trash Pandas (53-64, 22-26 second half) continue the series with the Barons (44-74, 19-30 second half) on Saturday night. First pitch at Toyota Field is scheduled 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 be broadcast locally on WAAY 31.6, This TV. Following the game, a dazzling fireworks show will light up the sky above Toyota Field, presented by Boeing.
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring