Los Angeles Angels Double-A affiliate Rocket City Trash Pandas edge the Biloxi Shuckers 3-1 in decisive third game of title series to complete worst-to-first season.
History was made at Toyota Field in Madison, AL, on Wednesday night as the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, posted a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the visiting Biloxi Shuckers to wrap up a 2-1 series win and capture their first-ever Southern League title. It was also the first championship for any Angels affiliate since 2016, when the Rookie/Short-Season Orem (UT) Owlz won the Pioneer League title.
The win completed a worst-to-first season for the Trash Pandas as they turned a minor-league worst 45-92 record in 2025 into a championship-caliber 74-66 mark. They qualified for the playoffs by winning the North Division's second half before sweeping the Knoxville Smokies (Chicago Cubs affiliate) in the semifinals and holding off the Shuckers, who were also seeking their initial Southern League title.
"Some of us have been here all year, some of us have been here four years, and we've gone from 45 wins to the mountaintop!" exclaimed closer Kenyon Yovan, as seen on Trash Panda TV on the Bally Sports Live network.
A raucous crowd of 2,912 cheered Rocket City to victory on Wednesday, one night after a playoff-record 4,756 saw the Shuckers force a decisive third game with a 7-0 victory.
The honor of recording the historic final out went to Yovan, who did it in style by snapping off a called third strike to Biloxi's Braylon Payne. Pitching in his fourth summer with Rocket City, the strikeout capped a five-out save that was Yovan's 15th in 17 chances this season. He entered the game in the top of the 8th with runners at first and second and one out. After striking out Josh Adamczewski, he held his breath as Anthony Scull made a leaping catch against the center-field wall of Damon Keith's deep drive to preserve the 3-1 lead.
The championship game was a full-circle moment for starter Austin Gordon as he had kicked off the 2026 season by taking the mound on Opening Day on April 3, ironically against the Shuckers in a 7-6, 10-inning win Rocket City win. He performed like a true champion on Wednesday, twirling 6.1 innings of six-hit, one-run ball with a season-high-tying 10 strikeouts. The win gave him a 2-0 record and 0.79 postseason ERA.
Offensively, the Trash Pandas broke through in the third inning against Biloxi starter J.D. Thompson, who had struck out five over his first two innings. Eddie Micheletti and Jake Thompson put runners on first and second with back-to-back singles to open the inning. The threat looked ready to fizzle out when Scull popped up a bunt attempt and Arjun Nimmala struck out, but Nick Rodriguez singled on Thompson's first offering to plate Micheletti for a 1-0 lead.
Rocket City added on in the fourth when Jacob Cozart led off with a single and advanced to second on Caleb Bartolero's groundout before Tucker Flint sent Cozart home with a sharp single. In all, more than 20 players played for the Trash Pandas in both 2025 and 2026, but Flint stands out among them as he has toiled for five seasons with Rocket City and is the franchise's all-time leader in games played.
The Shuckers cut the lead in half in the top of the seventh courtesy of a Camden Minacci balk that plated Damon Keith, who had singled and advanced to third on Eric Bitonti's base hit.
Nimmala provided some insurance with a two-out home run off Ryan Birchard in the bottom of the seventh. Birchard is the same pitcher that Nimmala had touched for a double to spark Rocket City's winning rally in the 5-4 Game One victory on Sunday night. The big fly also snapped a streak of seven strikeouts in eight at-bats since that double for Nimmala, who the Angels acquired in a deadline-day deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The home run was also Nimmala's 10th in his last 15 games.
"We really appreciate what you guys have done all year, you're a big part of this and we thank you for these young men right here," said Joe Kruzel as he addressed the crowd during the post-game celebration, which included being on the receiving end of an ice-cold Gatorade bath. "You guys give these guys what they've done all year and these cats have played championship baseball all season!"
