Trash Pandas Split Twin Bill with Lookouts

The Rocket City Trash Pandas earned a 4-2 win in the opener before suffering a 5-1 loss in the nightcap to split a doubleheader with the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday night at Toyota Field.

The opener was a pitcher’s duel to start, with Rocket City’s Denny Brady and Chattanooga’s Connor Curlis matching each other zero for zero for the first three innings. Chattanooga struck first with a run in the fourth to end Brady’s outing.

In his third Double-A start, Brady gave up one run on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Boomer Biegalski came out of the bullpen first and kept the deficit at one with a clean fifth.

Rocket City got the run back and more in the bottom of the fifth. Anthony Mulrine led off with a solo home run to left, his first of the season, to tie the score. Two hitters later, Ray-Patrick Didder tripled to center to put the go-ahead run aboard. Orlando Martinez drove him home with a double down the right field line to put Rocket City ahead. Later in the inning, David MacKinnon lined a single to center, scoring two more runs to put the Trash Pandas up 4-1.

Pitching with the lead, Biegalski got three quick outs in the sixth before the Lookouts were able to plate a run in the seventh and put the tying runs on base. With runners on the corners and two outs, the Trash Pandas called on Keith Rogalla (S, 1) out of the bullpen. The righty induced a fly out from Jose Barrero to finish the win and earn the save.

Biegalski (W, 1-1) earned his first Double-A win by giving up one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout over 2.2 innings in relief. Didder and MacKinnon each recorded two hits in the win for Rocket City to start the twin bill.

The second game began similarly to the first, with the Lookouts scoring first against Trash Pandas starter Cooper Criswell on RBI triple from TJ Hopkins in the top of the second.

Former Lookout Mitch Nay answered for Rocket City in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to left, his fifth of the season.

The Lookouts restored the advantage in the fourth on a two-run homer from Yoel Yanqui and an RBI double from Jay Schuyler to take a 4-1 lead off Criswell. A sacrifice fly from Hopkins in the sixth capped the scoring for Chattanooga.

That would prove to be enough as the Trash Pandas offense was unable to mount a comeback.

Criswell took the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings. In relief, Nathan Bates kept the deficit at four with 1.1 scoreless innings.

Rocket City was held to six hits in the loss in the second game, with Nay’s home run being the only extra-base hit. With hits in both games of the doubleheader, MacKinnon extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games.

The Trash Pandas (12-15) continue their series with against the Chattanooga Lookouts (16-11) on Friday 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.