CHATTANOOGA, TN — Lucas Knowles delivered six scoreless innings as the Rocket City Trash Pandas (36-32, 71-65) blanked the Chattanooga Lookouts (22-46, 59-78), 2-0, Saturday night at Erlanger Park, securing the series victory by taking four of the first five games.
Rocket City, which clinched its first Southern League postseason berth since 2022 on Friday, remains in contention for the North Division second-half title. The Trash Pandas trail Knoxville by a half-game at the time of this release, with Sunday marking the final day of the regular season.
After the clubs combined for 72 runs and 23 home runs through four games, Saturday became a pitchers' duel between Knowles (W, 2-2) and Chattanooga right-hander Beau Blanchard (L, 0-7). Rocket City broke through with three consecutive two-out hits in the sixth, providing all the offense needed for its fifth shutout of the season.
Knowles allowed five hits and two walks with one strikeout in his longest outing with the Trash Pandas. The left-hander threw 46 of his 79 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 4.40, benefiting from three double plays and a key outfield assist.
Chattanooga threatened in the second when Alfredo Duno led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Knowles stranded him there, ending the inning with a strikeout of Yerlin Confidan. Duno doubled again in the fourth, but Knowles escaped another scoring opportunity by getting Cam Collier to line out to right.
Blanchard matched Knowles through five innings, allowing only Nick Rodríguez's third-inning double. With two outs in the sixth, Caleb Bartolero doubled to right before Jacob Cozart singled him home for a 1-0 lead. Randy De Jesus followed with a double to center, scoring Cozart and doubling the advantage.
Rocket City's defense helped Knowles finish his outing in the bottom of the sixth. After Peyton Stovall singled, Carlos Sanchez grounded into a double play. Carter Graham then singled to left, but Jake Thompson threw him out trying to stretch the hit into a double.
Lucas Mahlstedt, Nicolo Pinazzi and Chris Cortez (S, 2) each worked a hitless inning to complete the shutout. Mahlstedt stranded a hit batter in the seventh, while Pinazzi worked around two one-out walks in the eighth, striking out Sanchez and retiring Graham on a groundout. Cortez set down the side in order in the ninth, striking out Duno before getting two groundouts to earn his second save.
Blanchard allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, walking one and striking out two.
Five of Rocket City's six hits were doubles, including Rodríguez's Southern League-leading 31st. Cozart reached base three times with a single and two walks, while Thompson added a ninth-inning double and is batting .471 (8-for-17) in the series.
The Trash Pandas and Lookouts conclude the regular season Sunday at Erlanger Park, with first pitch scheduled for noon CT. RHP Eybersson Polanco (5-8, 4.17) is scheduled to start for Rocket City against Chattanooga RHP Luke Hayden (1-1, 5.23). Fans can stream the game on Bally Sports Live, MiLB, or MiLB.TV. You can listen on ESPN 97.7 The Zone and Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 FM HD-2.
Playoff Tickets On Sale Now:
Tickets are on sale now for potential Trash Pandas playoff games at Toyota Field, presented by Parsons, including the North Division Series opener against Knoxville on September 15 at 6:35 pm and up to two Southern League Championship Series games, should Rocket City advance. Fans can purchase tickets HERE, at the Wicks Family Foundation Box Office or by calling (256) 325-1403.