PENSACOLA, Fla. — Avoiding a similar fate as Friday’s game, the Rocket City Trash Pandas prevented late magic as they held off the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-2 on Saturday.
Rocket City found the scoreboard first as infielder Kyren Paris drove home outfielder Tucker Flint on a sacrifice fly. Flint got on base via his first triple of the season.
Outfielder Nelson Rada drove in a run with a third-inning single to add onto the Trash Pandas lead. A groundout from infielder Sam Brown plated another runner later in the inning to make it 3-0 Rocket City off Pensacola starter M.D. Johnson (L, 0-2).
Pensacola got on the board in the fifth as infielder Harrison Spohn hit a solo homer narrowing the deficit to two.
The Trash Pandas lead was cut to one in the sixth as infielder Jacob Berry scored on a wild pitch from Rocket City starter Alan Rangel (W, 2-0).
Rangel got through the sixth inning and put together a strong night, allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out seven batters. The performance was good enough for Rangel’s second straight quality start.
Ivan Armstrong entered from the bullpen tossing two shutout innings and Mason Erla (S, 3) closed the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Trash Pandas have now won three of the first five games of the series and will look for their second straight series victory on Sunday.
First pitch against Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium is set for 4:05 p.m.
