Southern Maryland 5, High Point 1

WALDORF, Md. – The High Point Rockers had their three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday afternoon in a 5-1 loss to Southern Maryland at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Ben Aklinski led the Rockers with three hits as part of High Point’s seven-hit attack. Aklinski had a triple in the eighth inning and his solo homer leading off the sixth was the only run on the afternoon for the Rockers.

The Rockers are now 46-43 overall and 7-16 in the second half of the Atlantic League season.

Southern Maryland took a 1-0 lead in the first when Alex Crosby hit a three-run homer, scoring Jared Walker who had walked, and Michael Wielansky who had singled. The Blue Crabs extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth on a Matt Hibbert double and an RBI single from Michael Baca.

Aklinski pulled the Rockers to within 4-1 with his solo homer leading off the sixth inning. It was Aklinski’s 15^th homer of the year.

Neil Uskali (L, 3-3) started for the Rockers after being activated from the Injured List earlier in the day. It marked Uskali’s first appearance since June 17. Uskali went three innings and allowed four hits and three runs while walking three. Knowing he was on a shortened pitch count, Rockers manager Jamie Keefe opted not to use a DH and Uskali singled in his lone at-bat.

Mickey Jannis, a knuckleball-throwing righthander who made one start in the Major Leagues with the Baltimore Orioles in 2021, went three innings for the Rockers in his first appearance. He allowed just one run and three hits over three innings while striking out three.

High Point reliever Gabriel Castellanos allowed a run in the seventh when Alex Crosby hit an RBI single to score Braxton Lee who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

Southern Maryland’s Eddie Butler (W, 9-2) tossed 7.1 innings and struck out five while walking only one.

The Rockers will enjoy an off-day on Monday and then begin a three-game homestand with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

Kentucky 9, Staten Island 6

(Lexington, Ky., July 31, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes 9-6 on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a three-game weekend series from Wild Health Field.

 The Ducks took a 1-0 lead off Genomes starting pitcher Ryan Kellogg in the top of the second thanks to a run-scoring single produced by Jacson McGowan that plated Carlos Castro. The Genomes tied the game one half-inning later versus Ducks starter Akeel Morris on an RBI single from Anderson Miller. Long Island went back out in front 2-1 in the third courtesy of a Castro base knock which scored Sam Travis. Kentucky Wild Health tied the ballgame at two in the fourth by way of a solo home run to right field from Jimmy Paredes.

 The Genomes sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth and scored seven times to open up a 9-2 advantage, collecting three home runs in the process as Chris Shaw hit a three-run shot to right center field which was immediately followed by a solo tater to left from Khris Davis. Three batters later Samir Duenez concluded the barrage with a two-run blast to right. The Flock got to within 9-5 in the eighth when Vladimir Frias belted a three-run homer to left for his third roundtripper of the campaign. Long Island cut the deficit to 9-6 in the ninth as Castro singled on a sharp ground ball that enabled Lew Ford to cross the plate. The visitors later brought the potential go-ahead run to the batter’s box, but the rally would fall just short as Joe DeCarlo flied out to left with the bases loaded to end the ballgame against Genomes reliever Jack Weinbeger, who notched his second save of the season.

 Morris (4-8) was handed the loss, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits (four home runs) in four and one-third innings pitched, walking three while striking out four. Kellogg (4-2) picked up the win, surrendering two runs on seven hits across six innings of work, walking one and striking out three. Castro led the way offensively for Long Island with four hits, including a double, two RBI’s and a pair of runs scored, tallying his second four-hit performance in the process.

 The Ducks continue their road trip on Tuesday night when they open a three-game series with the Staten Island FerryHawks. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park. Fans 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. Right-hander Scott Harkin (7-6, 4.40) toes the rubber for the Ducks against FerryHawks righty David Martinez (2-2, 6.11).

Gastonia 8, York 7 (Game 1)
Gastonia 5, York 1 (Game 2)

The Gastonia Honey Hunters swept an Atlantic League doubleheader on Sunday evening, beating the York Revolution by scores of 8-7 and 5-1.

Game One

Reilly Hovis and Alex Sanabia were initially slated to close out the series for their respective clubs on Sunday. However, the rainout from Saturday night slid them into the opener of the doubleheader. Hovis came into the contest making his second start of the week at Caromont Health Park, while Sanabia was looking to avoid a similar outcome from his last outing against the Honey Hunters.

York had the bats going early, as JC Encarnacion doubled to open the contest, with Carlos Franco hitting a two-run shot over the centerfield wall to give York the 2-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the second inning, Gastonia pieced together a flurry of hits to score three runs, as Stuart Levy lifted a double high off the wall in left, scoring Luis Roman and Luis Castro to even things at 2-2. One batter later, Jake Skole doubled to right, scoring Levy, to give the Honey Hunters a 3-2 advantage.

In the third, Jack Reinheimer roped a ground-rule double to center to give Gastonia a chance to grow their lead. Two batters later, Zach Jarrett looped a broken-bat ground ball to second, scoring Reinheimer. The RBI groundout for Jarrett stretched the lead to 4-2.

York retook the lead in the fifth, as Yefri Perez scored on a wild pitch from Hovis to cut the lead to 4-3. A Carlos Franco single through the box scored Encarnacion, giving Franco three RBI in the game. The RBI single knotted the score at 4-4.

The Franco base-hit chased Hovis from the game, as Mauro Gozzo brought on Eulides Leyer.

Leyer faced immediate difficulty, as he walked Telvin Nash and Nellie Rodriguez to start his outing. The second free pass scored Elmer Reyes, giving York the lead again at 5-4.

Franco would score the final run of the fifth inning on a fielder's choice, extending the lead for the Revolution to 6-4.

In the sixth inning, Franco drove another base hit to center, scoring Lenin Rodriguez to up the lead to 7-4.

Nick Howard entered the game for York (40-48, 10-13), looking to keep Sanabia in line for the win.

However, Gastonia was not a willing participant in that story.

In the bottom of the sixth, Zach Jarrett reached on a walk, followed by a Luis Roman free pass. A Tra Holmes pinch-hit single to right loaded the bags for Emmanuel Tapia.

And Tapia delivered!

He returned the lead back to the Gastonia side with a drive to right over the wall for a grand slam, making it an 8-7 lead. The homer was Tapia´s tenth and his third grand slam of the season.

With the lead returned to Gastonia, Goose Gozzo brought on his closer, Jesus Balaguer. The hard throwing right hander was seeking save number nineteen on the year.

Balaguer was in top form, striking out two in the seventh along with an infield po up to close the contest.

Leyer picked up the win for Gastonia (18-4,62-25) to move to 3-0, as Balaguer did earn his 19th save of 2022. Nick Howard was saddled with the setback, falling to 0-3 on the season.

Game Two

Onas Farfan got the ball for Gastonia in game two, making his second start of the season. Duke von Schamann got the spot start for York, trying to salvage a game from the series.

Again, York got the offense going early with a long ball, as Elmer Reyes left the yard to put the Revolution ahead 1-0.

After the opening frame, the York lineup was subdued by a solid pitching effort by Gastonia, clinching the series sweep.

In the second inning, Gastonia would go on a run, reaching safely four times in the second, capped off by Jaylen Smith's first homer in the black and gold. The three run blast to left field gave Gastonia a 4-1 advantage.

Onas Farfan completed four innings in the contest before handing the ball over to Ezequiel Zabaleta. Despite being unable to earn the win this afternoon, Farfan acquitted himself nicely, allowing just two hits and one run throughout.

In the fifth inning, Gastonia added some insurance as Luis Castro scored on a Tra Holmes single to center. The RBI single grew the lead to 5-1, in favor of the Honey Hunters.

An infield single prompted York manager to go to his bullpen, calling on Nick Green. Green´s first pitch to Alex Holderbach sailed to the backstop as Emmanuel Tapia attempted to score on the wild pitch. York got a fortuitous bounce, ricocheting back to catcher Jhon Nunez, who tagged out Tapia at the plate.

As the inning came to a close, the rains began to fall, prompting a delay in the seven inning contest.

Play resumed 18 minutes later, as Quintin Torres-Costa came on to pitch the sixth inning for Gastonia.

Torres-Costa completed a perfect frame, getting the Honey Hunters three outs from sweeping the Revolution and moving the win streak to five straight games.

In the seventh inning, Sam Bordner came on to wrap us the contest for Gastonia, Ezequiel Zabaleta (1-0) earned the win for Gastonia (63-25, 19-4), moving the club to 38 games over the .500-mark. and growing their second half South division lead by at least a half-game after today´s action.

Duke von Schamann took the loss for York, who fell to 40-49 (10-14 second half) after being swept in their only trip to Caromont Health Park.

After an off day Monday, Gastonia will journey to Kentucky for a brief three-game series against the Lexington Legends. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.

Lancaster 7, Staten Island 6

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - West Tunnell struck out the final two batters on Sunday with the bases loaded to preserve a 7-6 victory over the Staten Island Ferryhawks as Lancaster completed a three-game sweep.

The win kept Lancaster in first place by one game over Southern Maryland in the second half North race.

Tunnell retired Javier Betancourt on a 3-1 ground out to open the ninth but walked Dilson Herrera and Rusney Castillo back-to-back.  Ricardo Cespedes hit a grounder down the third base line which was flagged by Trace Loehr.  In an attempt to get a force at third, Loehr dropped the ball and was charged with the Barnstormers’ fourth error of the game.

The Lancaster closer then struck out Mauriel Bautista and Ramon Osuna, both swinging, to record his seventh save.

Lancaster took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-run single by Andretty Cordero and an infield hit by Jake Hoover that scored Jacob Barfield.  Staten Island struck back to take the lead in the fourth.  Cespedes slammed a three-run homer to right to tie the game, and Osuna singled into right to score Bautista for a 4-3 edge.

After Nile Ball ran into trouble in the fifth, the Barnstormers went to Bret Clarke (2-1), who got a quick double play out of Cespedes to keep Lancaster within one.

The Barnstormers tied the game on a bases loaded walk to Mercedes in the top of the sixth.  In the seventh, Cordero singled to center off Eric Marinez (1-3) and moved up on a bunt by pinch hitter Shawon Dunston, Jr.  Anderson Feliz singled into right center for a 5-4 lead.  Anthony Peroni followed with his second double to put runners at second and third.  A wild pitch scored Feliz and Peroni crossed the plate on an infield single by Loehr as Lancaster led by three.

Two errors created issues for Josh Graham in the eighth.  Bautista reached on a wild throw by Anthony Peroni who fielded a dribble in front of the plate.  He scored from second on a double to left center by Osuna.  Pinch hitter Joseph Monge stroked a grounder to short, but Hoover made a low throw that Cordero could not scoop, putting the tying runs aboard.  Another pinch hitter, Andres Noriega, cut the lead to one with a sac fly to left, but Graham got Antoine Duplantis to ground into a double play to close the inning.

Lancaster will head to York on Tuesday.  Cameron Gann (5-8) will make the start for the Barnstormers against right-hander Nick Travieso (5-5).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel at 6:25.

NOTES:  Lancaster has won seven straight over Staten Island, five by two or fewer runs…Cordero finished July with 32 RBI…Lancaster tied a season high by drawing 11 walks in the game…Melvin Mercedes drew four of them and has now walked 60 times on the year.

Lexington at Charleston, PPD
Rescheduled for Sept. 6