MADISON — The Rocket City Trash Pandas are postseason-bound after Sunday’s 7-2 win over the Montgomery Biscuits at Toyota Field.
The Trash Pandas are 39-24, 15 games above .500 for the first time in franchise history. They closed out the first half home season with a 25-11 record at Toyota Field.
The Trash Pandas jumped out to a 3-0 start on a sweep in Birmingham to start the season. They led the North Division from nearly start to finish, never falling more than three games out of first place the rest of the way.
The Southern League playoffs begin in late September. The Trash Pandas will face the second half winners in a best-of-three series with Rocket City hosting Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3.
On Sunday, Bryce Teodosio broke a 1-1 tie with an inside-the-park home run in the seventh.
Teodosio sent the ball to deep right field. Montgomery right fielder Grant Witherspoon made a leap at the wall, but the ball went over his glove and off the fence.
As the ball rolled away from Witherspoon, Teodosio rounded the bases.
Getting the green light from Manager Andy Schatzley, Teodosio sprinted home and slid head-first for the inside-the-park home run and a 2-1 lead for the Trash Pandas.
In the eighth, Rocket City added key insurance runs on RBI singles from Orlando Martinez and Preston Palmeiro.
Braxton Martinez put on the finishing touches with a towering three-run home run to left center, giving the Trash Pandas a 7-1 lead.
Kolton Ingram finished off the win in the ninth, setting off a wild celebration on the field and in the clubhouse.
Chase Silseth started for the Trash Pandas and, after giving up a first-inning solo home run, shut out the Biscuits rest of the way. In his six-inning stint, Silseth allowed one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
The Trash Pandas got the run back in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly from Martinez to score Zach Humphreys, who reached with a one-out walk.
Luke Murphy was first out of the bullpen in the seventh and dominated for a 1-2-3 inning, setting the stage for Teodosio’s homer. Murphy, 6-1, earned his team-leading sixth win of the season with two scoreless relief innings.
Teodosio’s inside-the-park home run was his ninth homer of the season and came one day after his 23rd birthday.
Palmeiro led the team with three hits and Braxton Martinez drove in four runs.
The Trash Pandas hit the road for their final series of the first half with a six-game set against the Birmingham Barons starting Tuesday night.
First pitch at Regions Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio.
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