Trash Pandas Win Arms Race 2-1 In 10 Innings 

In a scoreless pitcher’s duel where both starters matched each other zero for zero, the Rocket City Trash Pandas broke through in the top of the tenth and held on in the bottom half for a 2-1 win over the Mississippi Braves in the third game of their series on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.

With no runs on the board for the first nine innings, the Trash Pandas were finally able to open the scoring in the tenth. Facing new Mississippi reliever Hayden Harris (L, 2-1), Jose Gomez doubled on a shallow fly ball to right, moving automatic baserunner Tucker Flint to third and putting two on with nobody out. Two hitters later, Mac McCroskey cashed in with an RBI single to right, plating Flint and moving Gomez to third with one out. Anthony Mulrine followed with a squeeze bunt up the first base line, scoring Gomez with a critical insurance run and a 2-0 Rocket City lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Luke Murphy (W, 3-2) returned for his second inning of work. After a balk moved automatic runner Cal Conley to third, Luke Waddell drove in the Braves’ first run with a sacrifice fly to left. Murphy got the second out on a strikeout. A two-out walk extended the game. But Murphy let it go no further, striking out Javier Valdes to finish the 2-1 win.

The starters stole the show early, as Mississippi southpaw Luis De Avila and Rocket City righty Brett Kerry were each on the top of their game.

On the mound for the Braves, De Avila allowed a two-out double to Gabe Matthews in the top of the first before striking out Flint to end the inning. Bryce Teodosio reached with a one out single in the second. But he was picked off by De Avila. The Mississippi starter then retired the side in order in the third and fourth and got a double play to erase a runner in the fifth. He again continued to set the Trash Pandas down in order, setting the visitors down one, two, three in the sixth and seventh.

Kerry was equally as efficient. He allowed a two-out single in the first from Cody Milligan before striking out Jesse Franklin to get through the first unscathed. After Milligan’s single in the first, Kerry retired the next 17 hitters in a row before a one-out single in the seventh. In between the pair of singles, Kerry used his fastball and his array of breaking pitches to keep the Braves off balance to induce weak contact, if any contact was made at all, in keeping the game scoreless.

The one-out single by Waddell in the seventh would lead to the Braves’ biggest threat against Kerry. With Cade Bunnell at the plate and two outs, Waddell stole second and advanced to third when Mulrine’s throw went into center field. Kerry ended the inning by striking out Bunnell, stranding the go-ahead run at third.

De Avila returned in the eighth and ended his night by working around a one-out single from Mac McCroskey in a scoreless innings. Kerry also went back out in the eighth set the Braves down in order to finish his night.

The pitchers ended with nearly identical final lines. De Avila needed 87 pitches to throw eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits while walking one and striking out six. Kerry threw 88 pitches over his eight clean innings, giving up two hits, walking none, and striking out six. Neither starter would factor in the decision in the longest start of each of their professional careers.

Both teams went to their bullpens in the ninth. For Mississippi, Kyle Wilcox surrendered a one-out single to D’Shawn Knowles, who promptly stole second. Wilcox struck out the next two hitters he faced to end the inning.

With a chance to walk off against Luke Murphy, Drew Campbell took a leadoff walk for the Braves. It was erased when Mulrine threw him out trying to steal second. Murphy ended the inning by striking out Conley, sending the game to extra innings.

Gomez and McCroskey each went 2-for-4 for Rocket City in the win while Waddell recorded both Mississippi hits. The win is the Trash Pandas’ first ever at Trustmark Park after dropping their first eight games there.

The Trash Pandas (56-67, 25-29 second half) and Braves (53-69, 20-34 second half) continue the series at Trustmark Park on Friday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.