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Kentucky 2, High Point 1 (10)
 

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Six Kentucky pitchers held High Point to just three hits on Friday night as the Genomes took a 2-1 victory from the Rockers in 10 innings in front of 2,324 fans at Truist Point.

The Genomes did not allow a High Point hit after the second inning until there were two outs in the ninth.

Quincy Latimore staked the Rockers to a 1-0 lead with a two-out solo homer to left off Genomes starter Elih Villanueva in the second.

Kentucky tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth when Riley Mahan hammered a line drive homer over the right field fence off High Point starter Cooper Casad.

Villanueva threw five innings, yielded just two hits, walked one and struck out five before leaving for Josh Martin before the top of the sixth.  Villanueva retired the last seven hitters he faced. Casad went six innings and did not issue a walk while giving up five hits and striking out six. The only run he allowed was Mahan’s sixth inning homer.

The game remained deadlocked as each team’s bullpen locked down the other’s offense. Neither team was able to get a runner to second base over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

With two outs in the ninth, Michael Russell singled softly to center, marking the Rockers’ first base hit since Latimore’s homer in the second.

In the tenth, with Cleuluis Rondon starting the inning at second, Luke Becker’s sacrifice bunt moved him to third. Chase Vallot smashed a one-hopper at third baseman Zander Wiel who tried to tag Rondon but was ruled to have missed. Andrew Keefer singled to right to bring home Rondon with the go-ahead run.

The Rockers went down in order against Jack Weinberger in the 10th as he earned the save.

Besides Latimore’s homer in the second and Russell’s single in the ninth, High Point’s only other hit came in the first when Russell added a two-out single.

High Point’s Austin Glorius (1-1) took the loss while Kentucky’s Diego Moreno earned the win by pitching the ninth inning and allowing one hit while getting one strikeout. Glorius allowed two hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts in his lone inning of work.

The Rockers continue their homestand on Saturday night with the third of four games against the Genomes. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 at Truist Point.

York 5, Long Island 3

(Central Islip, N.Y., April 22, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the York Revolution 5-3 on Friday night in the opening game of the 2022 season at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

York scratched across the game’s first run in the second inning on Jack Kenley’s RBI single to center field off Ducks starter Brett Kennedy. Long Island answered with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the frame from Deven Marrero to tie the game at one. Dustin Woodcock put the Ducks in front in the bottom of the fourth with a long solo home run to right off Revolution starter Alex Sanabia.

The Revs tied the game at two in the sixth on Nellie Rodriguez’s RBI infield single to third. However, the Ducks went back in front in the bottom of the inning on Rusney Castillo’s RBI double to left-center. It stayed that way until the eighth when York plated three runs on bases loaded walks to Carlos Franco and Rodriguez as well as a pinch-hit RBI single to left by Paul Mondesi, giving the visitors a 5-3 lead.

 Neither starter factored into the decision. Kennedy went four innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits while striking out four. Sanabia lasted four innings as well, giving up two runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Robinson Parra (1-0) picked up the win after a scoreless seventh inning despite two walks. Frank Moscatiello (0-1) took the loss, conceding three runs on a hit and two walks. Jim Fuller earned his first save with a scoreless ninth despite allowing two hits.

 Woodcock led the Flock with two extra-base hits and a walk. Johnni Turbo added two hits, while Joe DeCarlo collected a single and three walks.

 The Ducks and Revolution continue their three-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). Following the game all fans will be treated to the first Fireworks Spectacular of the 2022 season, which will light the sky over the center field fence. It’s also a Lucky Seat Saturday, presented by Long Island MacArthur Airport. During the game, the Ducks will be selecting a lucky fan in the ballpark, who will win a free roundtrip for two to any of Breeze Airways’ 28 destinations. Left-hander Bennett Parry takes the mound for the Ducks against Revolution southpaw Austin Nicely.

 Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on LIDucks.com as well as on the Ducks official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

 The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

Southern Maryland 6, Lexington 2

(Lexington, KY, April 22, 2022) After the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs fell in game one of the series against the Lexington Legends, they responded with a resounding 6-2 victory in game two.  The Blue Crabs’ pitching staff did not surrender an earned run, while the bats added six runs on eight hits. 

Denson Hull performed well for the Blue Crabs in his first start since 2019.  Hull did not allow a hit in the first three innings of the game and pitched four and one-third innings of scoreless baseball. 

Lexington’s starter, Daniel Corcino, ran into trouble in the first.  Jack Sundberg led off the game with a walk.  The next batter, Rubi Silva, roped a double into left field, scoring Sundberg.  Silva came around to score later in the inning on a fielding error by third baseman Dominic Bethancourt, putting Southern Maryland up 2-0. 

Corcino pitched a trio of clean innings until the fifth.  With two outs, David Harris lined doubled to left field.  The Blue Crabs took advantage of another miscue, when Harris scored on an error, giving the Blue Crabs a 3-0 lead. 

After four and one-third scoreless innings, Denson Hull exited the game with the bases loaded and one out.  Alex Merithew entered.  On the second pitch of Merithew’s appearance, Phillip Ervin lined into a double play to end the inning, with the Blue Crabs still leading 3-0. 

Southern Maryland put together another rally in the sixth inning.  Ryan Haug and Matt Hibbert started the inning with singles before Michael Baca reached on a hit by pitch. With one out and the bases loaded, Rubi Silva bounced a single into right field. Phillip Ervin committed Lexington’s third error of the evening, allowing all three runners to score, putting Southern Maryland on top 6-0. 

Lexington picked up two runs back in the bottom of the sixth.  From there, the Blue Crabs bullpen shut down the Legends’ offense.  Nick Wells, (W, 1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning.  In the ninth, Mat Latos allowed two baserunners, but exited the inning unscathed, securing a 6-2 Blue Crabs victory. 

The Blue Crabs return to Wild Health Field tomorrow for game three against the Lexington Legends at 6:35 pm.  The Blue Crabs have their home opener on Wednesday, April 27 at 6:35 pm. 

Gastonia 4, Lancaster 3

They call it gambling for a reason.  Sometimes you win.  Sometimes you lose.

Left fielder Reece Hampton of the Gastonia Honey Hunters gave the Lancaster Barnstormers a losing lottery ticket on Friday night.

Hampton latched onto a fly ball down the left field line by Trace Loehr, fired home to double up Devon Torrence, and then Alex Holderbach rifled a throw to third to nab Melvin Mercedes as Gastonia turned the first triple play against Lancaster since 2010.  That defensive gem help the Honey Hunters to hold on for a 4-3 victory at CaroMont Health Park.

With Gastonia up, 4-1, Anthony Peroni greeted Ronald Pena with a single through the right side.  Torrence doubled off the glove of a diving Johnny Davis in left center, and Mercedes slapped a single into left to cut the deficit to two.  With Loehr’s fly down the left field line, manager Ross Peeples turned Torrence loose, but Hampton was able to wheel and throw a strike home, leaving Torrence nowhere to go.  Mercedes saw an opening to take third, but he, too, was out by plenty cancelling the inning.

Colton Shaver got the Barnstormers one closer with a monstrous homer over the left field screen with one out in the ninth, but Jimmie Sherfy was able to earn the save with only Andretty Cordero reached first on a dropped third strike.

Gastonia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second.  Joseph Rosa led off with a bloop double down the left field line.  Dominic DiSabatino (0-1) retired the next two hitters before lefty hitting third baseman Luis Roman went the other way for a two-run homer.

An unearned run in the third stretched the lead to 3-0.

Deck McGuire (1-0) struck out the first five batters and carried the shutout into the fourth before Anderson Feliz nailed a double into the right field corner and scored on Cordero’s two-out single to center.

Gastonia struck again in the sixth against lefty reliever Tommy Shirley.  Zach Jarrett led off with an infield single and was forced at second.  Feliz made a fine running catch on a foul pop up by Rosa, but Hampton and Cesar Trejo both singled just out of LeDarious Clark’s reach to produce the run.

The teams take the field on Saturday at 6:15 for the third game of the series.  Lefty Augie Sylk will make the start for the Barnstormers against fellow southpaw Jerry Keel.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel, starting at 6:10.

NOTES:  Lancaster’s bullpen has allowed only one run in 9.1 innings…The Barnstormers outhit Gastonia, 9-5, in the game…Lancaster turned two ground ball double plays and hit into one…Mercedes, Loehr, Feliz, Cordero, Clark and Peroni have each hit in both games…The game was played in 2:40, seven minutes faster than the quickest nine-inning contest involving the Barnstormers in 2021…The last triple play against the Barnstormers came at Newark, August 19, 2010.

Charleston 5, Staten Island 1

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Charleston Dirty Birds posted a second straight win over Staten Island with a 5-3 victory at Appalachian Power Park on Friday.

The game was tied 3-3 in the sixth inning when Yovan Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Engel Beltre who reached base on a fielding error by Staten Island pitcher Joe Kuzia. Charleston added an insurance run in the seventh on a solo homer by Anfernee Seymour.

Charleston’s Kit Scheetz earned the win with two innings of one-hit relief. Kuzia took the loss for the FerryHawks.