Pitching Powers Trash Pandas to 2-1 Win Over Biloxi

BILOXI, Mississippi – The Rocket City Trash Pandas took an early lead than used a stellar pitching performance to hold on for the rest of the game in a 2-1 victory over the Biloxi Shuckers in the fifth game of their six-game series on Saturday night at MGM Park.

For the first time all week, it was the Trash Pandas that opened the scoring. They loaded the bases with one out in the second but were unable to capitalize. An inning later, clutch hitting finally gave Rocket City the lead. Edgar Quero got it started with a one-out double off the wall in center. Two hitters later, Jeremiah Jackson laced a double of his own down the line in right to plate Quero with the first run of the game. Livan Soto followed with the Trash Pandas’ third double of the inning on a ground ball that stayed fair inside of third base to score Jackson for a 2-0 lead.

Trailing for the first time in the series, the Shuckers got a run back in the bottom of the third on Zavier Warren’s leadoff home run against Trash Pandas starter Brett Kerry to cut the deficit in half.

Kerry responded by retiring the next six hitters he faced to get through the third and fourth with the lead intact. The Shuckers threatened in the fifth, with Felix Valerio lining a triple to center to put the tying run on third with nobody out. Kerry kept Valerio at third by getting Carlos Rodriguez to ground out. Warren struck out for the second out, and Kerry got through the inning with a pop out from Joe Gray Jr. That would be the end of the night for the Rocket City starter.

Over five innings, Kerry (W, 1-2) allowed one run on three hits without walking a batter and striking out four in his best start of the season, earning his first victory.

Kolton Ingram was first out of the Rocket City bullpen and worked around a one-out walk to pitch a scoreless sixth. In the seventh, he set the Shuckers down one, two, three to end his night. José Soriano was next into the game in the eighth and quickly retired the Shuckers, needing just eight pitches to retire the side in order.

Kenyon Yovan entered looking to protect the one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. Jackson Chourio began the inning with an infield single, the first Biloxi hit since the fifth inning triple from Valerio. After Tyler Black flew out for the first out, Yovan picked Chourio off first for a crucial second out. Yovan induced a pop up to short from Wes Clarke for the final out, finishing the one-run win and earning his second save of the season.

At the plate, four of the seven Rocket City hits were doubles. Jackson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI, the only player to record a multi-hit game. Soto’s RBI in the third was his first of the season for the Trash Pandas.

Ingram and Soriano earned holds for their scoreless relief work while Yovan picked up his second save in as many outings. The four Rocket City pitchers combined to hold the Shuckers to four hits and one walk in the win, snapping a six-game losing streak against Biloxi.

Biloxi starter Brandon Knarr (L, 0-2) took the loss after allowing two runs in 2.2 innings. T.J. Shook and Nick Bennett combined to keep the Trash Pandas off the board for the rest of the night, throwing 6.1 scoreless frames.

The Trash Pandas (15-17) and Shuckers (19-13) wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at MGM Park. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.