MADISON, AL – The Rocket City Trash Pandas have announced a schedule update for Tuesday, June 16, when they host the Montgomery Biscuits at Toyota Field. The clubs will first complete the suspended game from Sunday, June 1 at DABOS Park, which was halted due to weather in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied 1-1. The suspended game will resume at 5:05 pm, with the regularly scheduled contest to follow as a full nine-inning game. All gates will open at 4:00 pm.
Sunday's Suspended Game Recap:
The Trash Pandas turned to a bullpen game in Sunday's series finale, with Eybersson Polanco making his second spot start of the season. The right-hander was sharp early, allowing just one hit while striking out two over the first two innings. Montgomery broke through in the third with a two-out rally. Brayden Taylor and Xavier Isaac reached on consecutive singles, and during a double-steal attempt, Isaac became caught in a rundown long enough for Taylor to race home from third, giving the Biscuits a 1-0 lead.
Polanco finished his outing after 3.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits, no walks, and two strikeouts in his 14th appearance of the season, with a 3.12 ERA so far.
Montgomery starter Santiago Suarez retired the first 10 Trash Pandas he faced before Raudi Rodriguez ended both the no-hit bid and the shutout with one swing in the fourth inning. Rodriguez launched an opposite-field solo home run to right field, tying the game at 1-1. The blast was the 23-year-old's seventh of the season, tying him for the team lead, while also giving him the Southern League-leading 47th run scored and his 30th RBI. Suarez exited after 5.0 innings, with the homer accounting for the only run allowed. He walked none and struck out three.
Both clubs threatened over the next several innings but were unable to break the deadlock. Carlos Espinosa followed Polanco with 2.0 scoreless innings, retiring six of the seven batters he faced. Chris Cortez worked around two walks in the sixth, preserving the tie when Ryan Spikes lined into an inning-ending double play.
With ominous clouds surrounding DABOS Park in the eighth inning, the Trash Pandas mounted one of their best scoring threats of the afternoon. Elijah Dunham singled with one out and was replaced by pinch-runner Mac McCroskey, who was caught stealing on a strong throw from catcher Cameron James for the second out. Harold Coll followed with a single to right, and David Calabrese laid down a perfect bunt single to put two runners aboard. Nick Rodriguez then lined a single to left field, but a baserunning miscue ended the rally. Coll hesitated rounding third, while Calabrese was caught between second and third. The rundown concluded with Coll and Calabrese occupying third base simultaneously, and Coll was called out to end the inning.
Lucas Mahlstedt returned for a second inning of relief in the bottom of the eighth and struck out James to begin the frame. However, with dark clouds moving over the ballpark, the umpires called for the tarp during a pitching change, pausing play at 5:28 pm with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
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.