by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
BILOXI (GG) — A three-run home run from Catcher Matthew Wood in the fifth inning proved to be the game-winning hit in an 8-7 win for the Biloxi Shuckers baseball team (11-10) over the Rocket City Trash Pandas (9-12) at Keesler Federal Park on Sunday afternoon, April 26, 2026. The win clinched the fourth straight home series win for Biloxi, dating back to 2025, and their first Sunday win of the year.
The Trash Pandas struck for three runs in the first inning with an RBI single from Raudi Rodriguez and a two-RBI single from Harold Coll. The Shuckers responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple from Blake Burke and an RBI single from Damon Keith, making it 3-2.
The Trash Pandas got both runs back in the top of the second with an RBI single from Raudi Rodriguez and an RBI double from Tucker Flint, making it 5-2. The Shuckers made it 5-4 with an RBI single from Damon Keith in the third and an RBI sacrifice fly from Matthew Wood in the fourth.
An RBI groundout from Harold Coll made it 6-4 Trash Pandas in the fifth. The Shuckers took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double from Dasan Brown and a three-run homer from Wood, his third of the year.
The Trash Pandas scored their final run in the eighth with a solo home run from Nick Rodriguez. Ryan Birchard (1-0) earned the win while Eybersson Polanco (1-1) took the loss. Tanner Gillis earned his first Double-A save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Offensively, Blake Burke (2-for-5) and Damon Keith (3-for-3) each recorded multi-hit efforts for Biloxi. Both Dylan O’Rae (20g) and Blake Burke (21g) extended their hit streaks, becoming the first pair of Shuckers teammates since 2024 to each record an on-base of at least 20 consecutive games.
The Shuckers lost the last 2 before the Sunday nail biter, including Saturday’s loss 6-3 where the contest also featured the debut the Shuckers’ new alternate identity, the Biloxi Mudbugs.
However, Tuesday through Thursday, Biloxi beat Rocket City easily, including a 9-strikeout performance from former Mississippi State Pitcher Tyson Hardin.
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers
Shuckers Baseball, LLC is a MS entity owned and operated by John Tracy. Shuckers Baseball operates the Biloxi Shuckers baseball franchise, including operating Keesler Federal Park for Biloxi Shuckers minor league baseball games and other entertainment and recreational events.
(Photos by Shuckers Baseball LLC)
