MADISON, AL — A season-high four home runs and another dominant performance from the bullpen helped the Rocket City Trash Pandas (25-24, 60-57) survive a wild 10-8 victory over the Biloxi Shuckers (21-28, 56-58) on Friday night in front of 5,053 fans at Toyota Field. Rocket City saw an early eight-run lead disappear during an eight-run Biloxi fourth before Jacob Cozart and Jake Thompson delivered late solo home runs to give the Trash Pandas a 3-1 advantage in the six-game series.
The victory on Huntsville Stars Night marked the eighth time this season Rocket City has scored in double figures. The Trash Pandas remain 2.5 games behind Knoxville in the Southern League North Division second-half standings and one game ahead of Birmingham for the North’s second playoff spot, lowering their magic number over the Barons to 19.
After a scoreless first, the Trash Pandas erupted for four runs against Biloxi starter Bishop Letson in the second. Cozart and Caleb Bartolero were hit by consecutive pitches before Micheletti reached on an infield single to load the bases. Juan Flores followed with a two-run double to center, scoring Cozart and Bartolero, before Thompson lined a two-run single to left to bring home Micheletti and Flores for a 4-0 advantage.
Rocket City doubled the lead an inning later. Cozart drew a one-out walk and Bartolero singled before Micheletti launched a three-run home run to right-center, his second with the Trash Pandas, extending the lead to 7-0. Two batters later, Scull followed with a solo shot to right-center for his third home run of the season and second in three games, giving Rocket City an 8-0 cushion.
The game completely changed in the top of the fourth.
Biloxi sent 12 batters to the plate and erased the entire eight-run deficit. Dylan O’Rae opened with a walk before Luis Peña singled and Jesús Made drove home O’Rae with a single to left. Andrew Fischer followed by launching a three-run home run to right-center, cutting the Rocket City lead in half at 8-4.
The Shuckers kept coming against Kyle Robinson. Josh Adamczewski and Damon Keith singled before Mike Boeve brought home Adamczewski with another single to make it 8-5. After Robinson retired Darrien Miller for the second out, Rocket City turned to Carlos Espinosa with two runners aboard. A wild pitch advanced Boeve before O’Rae completed the comeback with a three-run home run to right-center, suddenly tying the game at 8-8.
Robinson finished with 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. Espinosa was charged with one run over 2.1 innings but quickly settled in after O’Rae’s homer, retiring seven of the final eight batters he faced and striking out three.
From there, the Rocket City bullpen took control and gave the offense time to recover.
Espinosa worked perfect fifth and sixth innings before Nicolo Pinazzi took over in the seventh. Biloxi loaded the bases on three walks, but Pinazzi struck out Made and Braylon Payne to escape without allowing a run. The left-hander returned for the eighth and worked around a leadoff single by Keith, picking Boeve off first before striking out Miller to complete two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Cozart finally broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh. After Jake Munroe drew his second walk of the night to extend his franchise-record on-base streak to 34 consecutive games, he was caught stealing second. Cozart then drove a solo home run to left-center, his fourth with Rocket City, putting the Trash Pandas back in front 9-8.
Thompson provided another insurance run in the eighth, launching a solo home run to right-center for his third of the season and extending the lead to 10-8. Nick Rodriguez followed with a single and Munroe walked, but Biloxi prevented further damage.
Kenyon Yovan (S, 13) took over in the ninth and made sure the two-run cushion held. The right-hander retired O’Rae and Peña on groundouts before striking out Made to end the game, earning his 13th save of the season with a perfect inning.
Pinazzi (W, 1-0) earned his first Rocket City victory after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings. Espinosa, Pinazzi and Yovan combined for 5.1 innings of one-run relief, allowing just two hits while walking four and striking out eight. The bullpen’s recent run has been even more impressive. Over the last three games, Rocket City relievers have combined for 15.1 innings with just one run allowed on three hits, striking out 23 and walking six. Over the last six games, the bullpen owns a 1.09 ERA, allowing only three earned runs across 24.2 innings with 45 strikeouts against 10 walks.
Micheletti led Rocket City’s 11-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, three RBIs and two runs scored. Thompson finished 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, a walk and a run, while Bartolero added two hits and scored twice. Cozart reached three times and scored three runs, while Flores drove in two with his second-inning double.
Munroe did not record a hit but drew two walks to push his on-base streak to 34 games, which is the fourth-longest active streak among full season Minor League clubs.
The Trash Pandas and Shuckers continue their six-game series on Friday night at Toyota Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm with RHP Tyler Bremner (0-2, 7.00) starting for the Trash Pandas against RHP Jaron DeBerry (7-7, 4.57) for Biloxi. Fans can watch Bally Sports Live, MiLB, or MiLB.TV. The game can be heard on ESPN 97.7 The Zone and Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 FM HD-2.
Upcoming Promotions at Toyota Field:
Vs. Biloxi | August 18-23
- Saturday, August 22: Cullman Oktoberfest Night featuring a Beer Stein Giveaway for the first 1,000 adults 21+, followed by Saturday Night Fireworks.
- Sunday, August 23: Lunáticos Day featuring a Sprocket Sugar Skull Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,500 fans, plus pregame autographs, face painting, and Kids Run the Bases.
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.