MADISON, Ala. — The Rocket City Trash Pandas were limited at the plate in Saturday’s doubleheader in a pair of losses to the Birmingham Barons by scores of 11-1 and 2-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 7,500 at Toyota Field.
Making his Double-A debut for Rocket City, starter Ryan Smith got off on the wrong foot as Birmingham right fielder Tyler Neslony hit a two-run homer down the left field line to give the visitors a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in the opener.
In the third, Rocket City catcher Michael Cruz launched a solo home run 418 feet over the fence in right-center to cut the Barons’ lead in half. But the Trash Pandas would get no closer off Birmingham starter Emilio Vargas (W, 4-1).
A solo home run from Joel Booker and an RBI single from Xavier Fernandez extended the lead to 4-1 off Smith. Over 6.0 innings, Smith (L, 0-1) gave up four runs, three earned, with one walk and three strikeouts to keep the Trash Pandas in the game.
The Barons put the game out of reach in the seventh with seven runs off Trash Pandas reliever Kieran Lovegrove.
Vargas earned the win in the opener for Birmingham after giving up one run on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the Barons looked to strike first off Rocket City starter Davis Daniel as Neslony singled to left with Fernandez on second. But Rocket City left fielder Orlando Martinez made a strong throw to catcher Anthony Mulrine, who tagged Fernandez out at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
The Barons would eventually score the game’s first run in the third on an RBI single from JJ Muno to plate Mitch Roman.
The Trash Pandas responded to tie the game in the fourth on Luis Aviles Jr.’s 11th home run of the month of July, a 415-foot solo shot to left-center that left his bat at 109 miles per hour against Birmingham starter Jason Bilous.
With the game tied in the fifth, Mulrine threw out Joel Booker trying to steal second base for a crucial second out in a scoreless inning. An inning later, the Barons retook the lead as Jameson Fisher doubled, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Fernandez.
That would be all the damage against Daniel (L, 0-2). In his fourth Double-A start, the former Auburn Tiger gave up two runs, one earned, on seven hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. But he would be the tough luck loser in the nightcap.
Trade deadline acquisition Jose Marte came on for Rocket City in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning to keep it a one-run game.
Despite putting the tying run in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings, the Trash Pandas were unable to get even off Bilous (W, 2-4) or reliever Anderson Severino (S, 1) as the visitors completed the doubleheader sweep.
Rocket City was limited to five total hits between the two games, with Aviles Jr. being the only player to record a hit in each game.
The Trash Pandas (37-37) conclude their series with the Barons (41-35) on Sunday night. First pitch at Toyota Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
