Rangel, Tolve Shine in Win Over Rocket City

MADISON, AL – Alan Rangel spun six innings of one-run ball and matched season-high with 10 strikeouts, and the Mississippi Braves (47-55, 14-20) snagged the series opener, 6-1, against the Rocket City Trash Pandas (47-56, 16-18) on Tuesday night at Toyota Field.

Tyler Tolve drove in four runs to pace the offense in the win. The M-Braves have won three of the last four games.

The M-Braves got started early with a Tolve RBI single in the first inning. The catcher punched a groundball through the left side to bring in Cody Milligan.

Tolve would finish 2-for-4 with two singles and four RBI. Milligan went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and three runs.

Tolve added two more runs with a base hit in the fifth to make it 3-0. Rocket City answered with their lone run of the game in the inning.

Rangel mostly cruised through his start, earning his second win of the season. The right-hander allowed four hits including a solo home run and issued no walks to go with 10 strikeouts. The start was arguably his best of the season.

In the eighth, three walks and a wild pitch allowed the M-Braves to score two runs without a hit. Tolve drove in his fourth run with a sacrifice fly in the inning.

Milligan made it 6-1 in the ninth with an RBI on a single to center field. The M-Braves bullpen put up solid work yet again. Hayden Deal, Hayden Harris and Ty Tice each pitched scoreless innings.

Drew Lugbauer shined again, going 2-for-3 with two walks, and Cal Conley finished 1-for-4 with a double and a walk.

The second game of the series is on Wednesday night at Toyota Field. LHP Nick Margevicius (0-0, 5.40) will make the start Mississippi while RHP Cole Percival (1-0, 9.00) will start for Rocket City. The first pitch is at 6:35 pm CT, with coverage starting 15 minutes before on 102.1 The Box, MiLB First Pitch App, and Bally Live.