The Rocket City Trash Pandas wrapped up their final tune-up before Opening Night with a 6-3 win over Japan’s Toyota Red Cruisers on Wednesday night at Toyota Field. Tucker Flint led the way offensively, homering twice and reaching base four times. The victory capped the three-game Global Baseball Series in front of a crowd of 4,355. The Red Cruisers opened the series with a win over Alabama A&M on Monday, while the Trash Pandas topped UAH on Tuesday before Wednesday’s finale. The day began with a ceremonial Cherry Blossom Planting outside Toyota Field with Trash Pandas and Toyota Executives, symbolizing friendship and new beginnings, followed by a pregame celebration featuring the national anthems of Japan and the United States and a presentation of both countries’ flags. On the field, Toyota struck first in the opening inning on a solo home run by Yuki Sato. Trash Pandas starter Bryce Osmond settled in from there, allowing just one run over 3.1 innings while striking out three. Rocket City responded in the second inning when David Calabrese drove in Tucker Flint with a triple, and Gustavo Campero followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Trash Pandas a 2-1 lead. Flint took over from there. He launched a two-run home run in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 3-1, then added another two-run shot in the sixth to make it 5-1. The Trash Pandas’ pitching staff was dominant in relief. Ryan Costeiu earned the win, retiring all eight batters he faced and striking out four over 2.2 innings as Rocket City set down 13 straight hitters from the fourth through the ninth. Rocket City added another run in the seventh on a Mac McCroskey groundout to push the lead to 6-1. Toyota mounted a late rally in the ninth with a two-run homer from Musashi Mitsuzuka, but the Trash Pandas held on for the 6-3 win. Flint finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored, three RBI, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Calabrese added a triple and double in a 2-for-3 night, while David Mershon reached base three times. Trash Pandas relievers Eybersson Polanco and Leonard Garcia each delivered scoreless outings, as Rocket City utilized six pitchers in the game.
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