MADISON, AL – The Rocket City Trash Pandas (23-20) swept Friday night's doubleheader against the Chattanooga Lookouts (24-19), winning Thursday night's suspended game 7-3 before taking the scheduled nightcap 4-0 at Toyota Field. The victories gave Rocket City a 3-1 series lead and moved the Trash Pandas within 1.0 game of first place in the Southern League North Division standings.
Rocket City also moved three games above .500 for the first time since July 9, 2024, when the club sat at 42-39. The Trash Pandas were 7-11 and eight games out of first place on April 23, but have gone 16-9 since to surge back into contention.
Friday's action began with the completion of Thursday's suspended contest, which resumed at 4:35 pm, tied 2-2. Before severe weather halted play Thursday night, Raudi Rodriguez and Gustavo Campero each drove in runs for Rocket City, while Jay Allen II tied the game for Chattanooga with a two-run homer in the third inning.
Austin Gordon started the suspended game on Thursday and allowed two runs on two hits over 3.0 innings with one walk and five strikeouts. Eyeberson Polanco (W, 2-2) took over when play resumed Friday and settled in after Chattanooga briefly grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. Ryan McCrystal doubled to begin the frame and later scored on a wild pitch, marking the first run Polanco had allowed over his previous 9.0 innings spanning five appearances.
The 22-year-old right-hander dominated from there, tossing 4.0 innings while allowing just one run on two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Over his last five appearances, Polanco has surrendered just one run over 12.0 innings with 16 strikeouts against only one walk.
Rocket City finally broke through against Chattanooga reliever Taylor Floyd (L, 1-1) in the seventh inning. Cole Fontenelle and Nick Rodriguez opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Harold Coll laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. David Calabrese and Raudi Rodriguez then each reached on fielder's choices that plated runs after Chattanooga attempted force plays at third and home. Two batters later, Tucker Flint crushed a three-run homer to the opposite field in left-center, giving the Trash Pandas a 7-3 advantage.
Camden Minacci finished off the suspended game with 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out one and walking two while extending his scoreless streak to six appearances covering 6.2 innings.
Wade Meckler started Thursday's suspended game and went 1-for-2 before having his contract selected by the Los Angeles Angels prior to Friday's resumption. Meckler later homered in his first Major League at-bat with the Angels, launching a three-run shot off Jacob deGrom. Fontenelle finished the suspended game 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
In the nightcap, Rocket City rode another dominant performance from starter Joel Hurtado (W, 4-1). The Angels' No. 23 prospect carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning before Chattanooga's Leo Balcazar lined a 100 mph comebacker off Hurtado's right hip area for the Lookouts' first hit of the game. Hurtado quickly recovered, inducing a double play before retiring five straight hitters.
The 25-year-old right-hander ultimately retired 16 of the 18 batters he faced over 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one walk and six strikeouts to earn his fourth victory of the season, tying teammate Ryan Costeiu for the Southern League lead. Hurtado has won three consecutive starts since May 10 and four of his last five overall. During those three wins, he has allowed just three runs over 17.2 innings with 19 strikeouts and only three walks.
Rocket City broke through against Chattanooga starter Nate Peterson (L, 2-1) in the fourth inning of the nightcap. Matthew Lugo led off with a double before Raudi Rodriguez followed with an RBI double to put the Trash Pandas ahead 1-0. Two batters later, Tucker Flint grounded out to second to score Rodriguez and extend the lead to 2-0.
The Trash Pandas added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Rodriguez before Elijah Dunham connected for his first home run of the season in the sixth inning to cap the scoring at 4-0.
Luke Murphy (S, 7) recorded the final four outs of the seven-inning contest, striking out two to secure Rocket City's second shutout victory of the season. Murphy has Rocket City's longest streak without allowing an earned run, 11.1 innings and nine games, striking out 13 and walking just one over that span.
Rodriguez paced the offense in the nightcap, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Across the doubleheader, he went 3-for-7 and extended his hitting streak to seven games while reaching base safely in 10 consecutive contests and 32 of his last 33 games overall.
The Trash Pandas and Lookouts meet again on Friday night at Toyota Field for game five of the six-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm, with RHP Jose Gonzalez (2-1, 4.12) slated to start for Rocket City against RHP Jonathan Harmon (4-1, 5.31). The game can be seen on Bally Sports Live, MLB.tv, and MiLB.tv and heard on Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 FM HD-2 and ESPN The Zone 97.7 FM.
Saturday's Promotions:
- Saturday Night Fireworks: Enjoy another postgame fireworks show above Toyota Field, presented by COUNTRY Financial.
- Harry Potter Weekend (Jersey Auction): The first night of Harry Potter Weekend will feature the Trash Pandas wearing specialty Harry Potter-themed jerseys, which will be auctioned off during the game to benefit the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Fans can bid online at trashpandasbaseball.com/auctions or text 888-208-9695. Each jersey auction starts at $100 and increases by $25 increments.
- Super Carlin Brothers Meet & Greet: Enjoy a special Harry Potter Weekend experience featuring a Super Carlin Brothers Meet & Greet, a live taping of their "Through the Griffin Door" podcast, an exclusive SportsMED Stadium Club SRO ticket, a 2.5-hour in-game buffet, and a guaranteed giveaway item. The Super Carlin Brothers are known for their popular Harry Potter-inspired theories, podcasts, and fandom content. Get Package HERE (12 packages left!),
- Harry Potter Night Specialty Drinks:
- The Raven's Flight (Ravenclaw) – Available at Third Base Bar - Margarita with Blue Curaçao
- Helga's Honey Elixir (Hufflepuff) – Available at Rock Porch - Guajana Rum, honey syrup, and pineapple juice
- Serpent's Kiss (Slytherin) – Available at Bullpen Bar - Irons One Whiskey, sour apple, honey syrup, and lime juice
- Godric's Fire (Gryffindor) – Available at Bullpen Bar - Fireball Whiskey, cranberry juice, and orange juice
Tickets are available starting at just $8. They can be purchased online HERE. 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.