PENSACOLA, Fla. — Rocket City won its second straight game in Pensacola in a 5-3 thriller on Thursday.
Trash Pandas catcher Caleb Hamilton hit a run-scoring single for the game's first run in the second inning. Hamilton extended his hitting streak to four games with two of them now coming against his former team in Pensacola.
In the next half inning, outfielder Tanner Allen tied the game with a single for the Blue Wahoos.
Rocket City got the lead back in the sixth as outfielder Tucker Flint hit a two-run homer for his second of the season, putting the Trash Pandas up 3-1.
Trash Pandas starting pitcher Victor Mederos kept that lead going with six innings of one-run ball.
That lasted until the seventh as Allen hit a two-run homer of his own to tie the game.
Rocket City took the lead for good as a Hamilton sacrifice bunt led to an errant throw from Blue Wahoos pitcher Matt Pushard (L, 1-1) to drive in two runs and get the Trash Pandas a 5-3 lead.
Pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks entered for Rocket City in the eighth and remained on the mound the rest of the way, becoming the first Southern League pitcher with three wins this season.
Rocket City will look for three in a row against Pensacola on Friday at 6:05 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
