High Point 2, Gastonia 1

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Quincy Latimore broke a 1-1 tie with his 12th homer of the year as High Point defeated the Gastonia Honey Hunters 2-1 at Truist Point on Friday night.

Bryce Hensley earned his second win of the season, pitching two perfect innings of relief for the Rockers. Ryan Dull earned save number six of the season for High Point(42-39)

Gastonia outhit the Rockers 8-6 in the contest, but left twelve runners on to undo any significant offensive threats during the game.

High Point struck for a single run in the third inning, as Zander Wiel drove home Giovanny Alfonzo with a base hit. The RBI was the 67th of the season for the Rockers´ All-Star.

In the fifth, Joseph Rosa and Zach Jarrett singled to open the frame, as Luis Roman drove home Rosa to tie the game up at 1-1.

Latimore´s homer in the eighth came off Gastonia´s losing pitcher Sam Bordner, sending his record to 9-5 on the season.

Jack Reinheimer, Luis Castro and Rosa had multi-hit games for Gastonia. The two-hit night for Rosa puts the All-Star second baseman at 97, good for second in the Atlantic League behind Andretty Cordero with 107.

Gastonia´s loss tonight is their first at Truist Point against the Rockers, as well as the first time Gastonia(57-23) has lost on a Friday this year. The game also marks the first time the Honey Hunters have lost back-to-back road games since May 25-26 in Lancaster.

Tomorrow, Gastonia looks to rebound against the High Point Rockers, as the Honey Hunters continue the three-game series. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.

Long Island 9, Southern Maryland 4

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 22, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 9-4 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

 Southern Maryland jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Ducks starter Ryan Meisinger on Alex Crosby’s two-run single and a fielding error that plated Crosby and Jared Walker. Long Island got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning on Sam Travis’ RBI groundout to Blue Crabs starter Alex Merithew. Kevin Whatley followed one inning later with a two-run home run to right field, closing the gap to 4-3.

 The Ducks took their first lead of the night at 6-4 in the sixth when Sam Travis hit a two-run home run to right-center, and Deibinson Romero followed immediately thereafter with a solo homer to left. Alejandro De Aza stretched the lead to 8-4 in the seventh with a two-run homer of his own to right. Carlos Castro then rounded out the scoring with a solo homer to left-center in the eighth.

Meisinger did not factor into the decision but lasted five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. Chris Cepeda (2-0) picked up the win after pitching a 1-2-3 sixth inning, striking out one. Merithew (1-2) took the loss, conceding eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits and a walk over seven innings with four strikeouts. Long Island’s bullpen combined to retire all 12 batters they faced.

 De Aza led the Flock offensively with three hits, two RBIs and two runs. L.J. Mazzilli added two hits and a run, while Travis finished with three RBIs.

 The Ducks and Blue Crabs continue their three-game series 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 in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular, presented by NYCB. 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 Stephen Tarpley (3-4, 3.68) takes the mound for the Ducks against Blue Crabs lefty Mitch Lambson (5-5, 4.18).

York 6, Lancaster 1

YORK, Pa. - Melvin Mercedes stands on the edge of franchise history.

 The Lancaster second baseman homered for the third straight night and hit safely for the 19th consecutive game, but it was not enough as the York Revolution used a barrage of extra base hits and a dominating start by Jorge Martinez to defeat the Barnstormers, 6-1, in a special Midnight Madness game at People’s Bank Park.

 Mercedes connected off Martinez (8-4) on a drive to left center with one out in the sixth for the Barnstormers only run.  It was Mercedes’ eighth homer of the season, matching the output of the first 10 years in his career.  It kept a streak alive that began against the Staten Island Ferryhawks back on July 3.

 Otherwise, Martinez was in control of the game.  The right-hander worked seven innings, giving up four hits and one walk.  He struck out nine to stretch his league-leading total to 106.

 Lancaster managed one threat against the 37-year old Cuba native.  That was in the fourth when Shawon Dunston, Jr. laid down a perfect bunt single and stole second.  Mercedes walked, but Martinez coaxed a double play ground ball out of Andretty Cordero and retired Trayvon Robinson on a pop out to shortstop.  Outside of the home run, the Barnstormers did not get another runner to scoring position until loading the bases against reliever Nick Howard with two outs in the ninth.

 Meanwhile, York got to Cameron Gann (5-7) for five extra base hits in a span of two innings.  Nellie Rodriguez opened the second with a home run to left center.  Gann retired the next two before Yefri Perez singled into center.  He stole second, and Lenin Rodriguez walked.  J.C. Encarnacion then lined a triple past a diving try by Dunston in right center.

Carlos Franco opened the third with an opposite field homer.  Two batters later, Nellie Rodriguez cleared the high left field wall to make it 5-0.

 Gann left after three innings and 79 pitches.  The bullpen allowed only one run in five innings of work as Melky Mesa doubled for the third time in the game to score Franco in the seventh.

 Lancaster will send right-hander Erik Manoah (2-1) to the hill on Saturday night against lefty Austin Nicely (2-8).  Fans may tune into the YouTube Channel at 6:25.

 NOTES:  The game began at 10:07 PM and ended at 1:06 AM…Cordero extended his own hitting streak to eight with a single in the sixth inning…Lancaster pitchers struck out 14…Dunston’s steal was his 22nd…The game attracted 1639.

Lexington 7, Staten Island 5

Charleston 4, Kentucky 3