COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Rocket City Trash Pandas (17-16, 52-49) erased an early three-run deficit and scored three times in the 10th inning to defeat the Columbus Clingstones (16-16, 45-52), 8-5, on Sunday afternoon at Synovus Park.
The victory secured Rocket City's sixth series win of the season, extended its winning streak to three games, kept the Trash Pandas alone atop the Southern League North second-half standings by one game over Knoxville with six weeks remaining, and sent the club home to Toyota Field for a six-game series against Birmingham beginning Tuesday.
Rocket City wasted little time taking the lead against Columbus starter Julio Robaina. Raudi Rodriguez worked a leadoff walk before Nick Rodriguez singled to center. Jake Munroe continued his torrid stretch at the plate by lining a two-run double to left, scoring both runners for a 2-0 advantage. The double extended Munroe's Southern League-best active on-base streak to 22 games.
Columbus answered immediately in the bottom half against Eybersson Polanco. Dalton McIntyre struck out to begin the inning, but Luke Waddell walked and Jordan Groshans doubled into the left-field corner. Carson Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Adam Zebrowski lined an RBI single to right, cutting the deficit to 2-1. One batter later, Will Verdung drilled a two-run double to left-center, but Tucker Flint started a perfect relay through Mac McCroskey to cut down Zebrowski at the plate and prevent further damage as the Clingstones took a 3-2 lead.
Polanco settled in after the rocky first inning, retiring six of the next seven batters while striking out four through the first three innings.
Rocket City pulled even in the third. Nick Rodriguez drew a one-out walk and stole second before Tucker Flint walked to put two aboard. Caleb Bartolero followed with a single to center to load the bases, and after David Calabrese worked a walk, a passed ball by Zebrowski allowed Nick Rodriguez to score the tying run, making it 3-3.
The Trash Pandas continued to pressure Columbus pitching in the fifth. Flint singled with one out before Bartolero followed with another base hit. Calabrese then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Flint to give Rocket City a 4-3 lead.
Columbus responded in the bottom of the fourth. Verdung singled before Logan Braunschweig tripled into the right-field corner, scoring Verdung. During the next at-bat, a passed ball allowed Braunschweig to score, giving the Clingstones a 5-4 advantage.
Jose Gonzalez turned the game around after replacing Polanco in the fifth. The right-hander stranded two inherited runners before tossing 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out one to keep Rocket City within a run.
The Trash Pandas drew even again in the sixth when J.J. D'Orazio launched a leadoff solo home run to left off rehabbing left-hander Ray Kerr, his seventh homer of the season, knotting the score at 5-5.
Neither club threatened over the next three innings as Blake Weiman and Lucas Mahlstedt (W, 3-1) combined for 3.0 scoreless innings out of the Rocket City bullpen. Weiman worked around a seventh-inning single before Mahlstedt retired six of the seven batters he faced over the eighth and ninth innings, earning his third victory of the season.
After both teams were retired in the ninth, Rocket City broke through in the 10th against Owen Hackman. Automatic runner Jake Munroe scored when Bartolero singled to center for a 6-5 lead. Calabrese followed with a line-drive triple to right, scoring Bartolero to double the advantage. Cole Fontenelle then drew a walk, and after a wild pitch moved the runners up, McCroskey delivered an RBI single to left, extending the lead to 8-5.
Kenyon Yovan (S, 9) took over in the bottom of the 10th and needed just 12 pitches to finish off the Clingstones. With automatic runner Dalton McIntyre at second, Yovan struck out Waddell and Jordan Groshans before Taylor lifted a harmless fly ball to Raudi Rodriguez in right, securing his ninth save of the season and Rocket City's fourth straight series victory over Columbus this year.
Munroe finished 1-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, extending the league’s longest active on-base streak to 22 games, tying Raudi Rodriguez's club-best streak from April 12-May 8 for the longest by a Trash Panda this season. Bartolero led the offense with a 3-for-5 afternoon and an RBI, while Nick Rodriguez and McCroskey each added two hits. Calabrese drove in two runs, including a key sacrifice fly and an RBI triple in the 10th, while D'Orazio's game-tying home run helped spark the comeback. Rocket City collected 12 hits, went 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and received 6.0 scoreless innings from its bullpen, as Gonzalez, Weiman, Mahlstedt, and Yovan combined to allow just three hits while striking out six to complete the series-clinching victory. The bullpen delivered 9.1 shutout innings to close the series.
After a day off on Monday, the first-place Trash Pandas will begin a six-game homestand against the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday night at Toyota Field. Fans can watch on Bally Sports Live, MiLB.TV, or MLB.TV, and listen locally on ESPN 97.7 The Zone and Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 FM HD-2.
Upcoming Promotions at Toyota Field:
- Tuesday, August 4: Tito's Tail Waggin' Tuesday welcomes fans and their dogs to Toyota Field, with proceeds benefiting local animal nonprofits. It's also Jimothy Night, where the first 200 kids will receive a Jimothy Raccoon mask while supplies last.
- Wednesday, August 5: Bookworm Night, presented by Marx Optical, plus Wine Wednesday featuring $5 select wines.
- Thursday, August 6: Grateful Dead Night featuring live music by Milltowne, Throwback Thursday with $3 domestic draft beers, and the first-ever postgame drone show at Toyota Field.
- Friday, August 7: You Are Not Alone Night followed by Friday Night Fireworks.
- Saturday, August 8: Space Night featuring specialty jerseys, a game-worn jersey auction, and Space Night Fireworks.
- Sunday, August 9: PAW Patrol Day featuring a special appearance by Chase, a jersey auction, pregame player autographs, face painting, and Kids Run the Bases after the game.
Tickets are available at TPTix.com. Fans can book a group outing for the 2026 season by visiting trashpandasgroups.com or by calling the group sales department directly at (256) 325-1403, option 2. A complete promotional schedule for the season can be found HERE.
Fans are reminded that Toyota Field follows MiLB's clear bag policy. Guests are allowed one clear bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. Small, clear clutches are also permitted. Exceptions will be made for medical needs and parents with infants (diaper bags). Learn more about this policy here.
ABOUT THE ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
Owned and operated by BallCorps, LLC, the Rocket City Trash Pandas are the proud Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Southern League. The Trash Pandas play at state-of-the-art Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama. The organization's mission is to unite our communities by creating positive and lasting memories one experience at a time.