Trash Pandas Lead From Start To Finish In 5-2 Win

The Rocket City Trash Pandas built an early lead behind starter Brett Kerry and never looked back, defeating the Chattanooga Lookouts 5-2 in front of an energetic crowd of 5,966 at Toyota Field on Saturday night.

Kerry was spectacular from the start, quickly dispatching the first three Chattanooga hitters he faced. The Trash Pandas wasted no time in getting him a lead.

David Calabrese began the bottom of the first with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Chattanooga pitcher Sam Benschoter (L, 1-5). He advanced to third on a ground out. With two outs in the inning, Jeremiah Jackson broke his bat but blooped a single into shallow right field, scoring Calabrese for an early 1-0 lead for the home team. Tucker Flint followed with a ground ball to third baseman for Quincy McAfee for an infield single. Aggressively running the bases, Jackson broke for third and dove around the tag to advance two bases on an infield single. Zach Humphreys then crushed a double to the gap in right-center, plating Jackson and Flint for an early 3-0 Trash Pandas advantage.

Pitching with the lead, Kerry was stellar for the rest of his outing. He shut the Loookouts down one, two, three in the second, got a double play to get through the third unscathed, and again retired the Lookouts in order in the fourth. A bunt single didn’t deter him in a scoreless fifth.

The Trash Pandas added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Aaron Whitefield singled, stole second, and came around to score on a double play ground out from Calabrese to extend the lead to 4-0.

Kerry continued on in the sixth by working around a leadoff single to keep the shutout going and then held the lead in the seventh with another one, two, three frame. Pitching into the eighth inning for the first time in his professional career, Kerry finally faltered. A leadoff single from Ivan Johnson was immediately followed by a two-run homer from Allan Cerda, getting the Lookouts on the board and bringing an end to Kerry’s start.

Over seven plus innings, Kerry (W, 3-2) allowed two runs on five hits, walking none and striking out four to earn his third consecutive victory.

Kolton Ingram was first out of the Trash Pandas bullpen and struck out two to get through the eighth with a 4-2 lead. Leading off the bottom half, Calabrese crushed a solo home run 377 feet to right, his fifth of the season, to give the Trash Pandas a big insurance run at 5-2.

In the ninth, José Soriano (S, 1) shut down the Lookouts in order to finish the win and earn his first save of the season.

From the top of the lineup, Calabrese led the way for Rocket City, going 2-for-4 with the home run and two runs scored to help snap the Trash Pandas’ four-game losing streak.

The Trash Pandas (21-23) wrap up their series with the Lookouts (23-20) on Sunday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Toyota Field. 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 Sunday’s game, a patriotic themed fireworks show will cap an incredible Memorial Day weekend at Toyota Field, presented by SAIC. The Trash Pandas will also be hosting a toiletries game at Sunday’s game, benefitting Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen. Fans are encouraged to donate new toiletries including dental supplies, soap, shampoo, and other necessities. For each donation, fans will get a raffle ticket Following the game, kids are invited to run the bases.