MADISON – The Rocket City Trash Pandas clawed back with a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, capped by an Oscar Colas walk-off triple, to stun the Columbus Clingstones 6-5 Wednesday night at Toyota Field.
The win marked Rocket City’s third straight overall and second to open the homestand.
The night had all the makings of another pitcher’s duel until the dramatic finish. Walbert Ureña delivered the longest start by a Trash Panda this season, going 7.1 innings while allowing just one run on three hits with five walks and six strikeouts.
Rocket City (17-35, 41-79) jumped ahead early when Arol Vera launched his first home run of the season in the third inning. Vera added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 2-0. Columbus (26-27, 52-67) cut the lead in half on a solo homer from Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. in the fifth, but the Pandas maintained a 2-1 advantage into the late innings.
Luke Murphy bridged the gap in the eighth with two outs in relief of Ureña. In the ninth, Sam Ryan (W, 1-3) was tasked with the save, but Columbus capitalized on two walks and an error to flip the game. Kilpatrick lined a two-run double to put the Clingstones ahead 3-2, before a sacrifice fly and Geraldo Quintero’s RBI single stretched the lead to 5-2.
That set the stage for the Trash Pandas’ wild rally. Columbus reliever Ellison Joseph (L, 1-4) walked Mac McCroskey and then hit Vera in the helmet with a pitch. Joseph followed with consecutive walks to David Mershon and Ben Gobbel, forcing in a run to make it 5-3.
Colas then fell behind 0-2 but battled off three pitches before roping a triple down the right-field line on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, clearing the bases and giving Rocket City its third walk-off win of 2025 — and first since June 11 against Pensacola.
Gobbel paced the offense, reaching base four times and finishing 2-for-3 with a run, two walks, and an RBI.
The series continues tonight with RHP Joel Hurtado (5-6, 3.05) starting for the Trash Pandas and RHP Ian Mejia (11-2, 2.40) going for Columbus.
Tonight is also Throwback Thursday and Huntsville Stars 40th Anniversary Night. The Trash Pandas welcome Jose and Ozzie Canseco, along with many other former Huntsville Stars players and staff for a special night. Fans can meet the Cansecos for free autographs on the Bill Penney Concourse from 5–6 p.m. and 6:30–9 p.m. with other Stars alumni also signing throughout the night.
On the field, the Trash Pandas will wear throwback Huntsville Stars jerseys that will be auctioned off online, with the proceeds benefiting Manifest Athlete Training.
First pitch is 6:35 p.m. and gates open at 5:30.
Tickets are available starting at just $8 for general admission and $16 for field-level seats. They can be purchased at tptix.com and in person during regular business hours at the Wicks Family Foundation Box Office or by calling 256-325-1403, option 1.
For group outings, visit trashpandasgroups.com or call the Group Sales Department at 256-325-1403, option 2.
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