High Point 13, Spire City 2

FREDERICK, Md. – The High Point Rockers exploded for a franchise record 14 runs in the ninth inning en route to a 22-2 win over the Spire City Ghost Hounds on Saturday night at Nymeo Field.

The Rockers held a comfortable 8-2 lead going into the top of the ninth inning and then blew up for a club record 14 runs. The 14 runs came on nine hits and one Ghost Hound error. Every Rocker in the line-up scored at least once in the ninth with five players scoring twice. Ben Aklinski had five RBI in the inning, on a run-scoring single his first time through and on a grand slam on his second at-bat of the inning. Daikan Yoh, Brian Parreira, and D.J. Burt each had a double in the ninth.

The Rockers had multiple big innings, scoring four runs in the fifth and three in the eighth before the ninth inning gala.

Spire City had taken a 1-0 lead in the first when Jose Marmolejos hit his 18^th homer of the year off High Point starter Justin Nicolino (W, 4-0). Quincy Latimore tied the game in the third with the first of his two home runs. The Rockers had a four-run outburst in the fifth, tallying on a Beau Taylor RBI single and a Zander Wiel three-run homer.

The Ghost Hounds narrowed the deficit to 5-2 in the sixth an a run-scoring hit by Osvaldo Abreu.

Latimore’s second homer, with D.J. Burt and Shed Long, Jr. aboard, gave High Point a n 8-2 lead after eight innings.

Spire City starter Zac Rosscup took the loss, going five innings and allowing seven hits and four walks on six strikeouts while allowing High Point’s first five runs.

Sam Selman, Jameson McGrane and Jeremy Rhoades each threw a scoreless inning in relief of Nicolino.

With the win, the Rockers improve to 11-7 in the second half and 52-29 overall.

The series continues on Sunday with game two of the three-game set slated for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday at Nymeo Field.

NOTES: The Rockers set season highs with 22 runs scored, 21 hits, 22 RBI and 37 total bases… The Rockers hit .429 as a team (21-for-49), tying for their second-highest average of the season… Justin Nicolino has now won four of his five starts this season and has gone at least five innings in each start… The 22 runs scored rank as the second-most in club history behind 25 runs scored at Lexington on 7/20/22… The nine hits in an inning stands as a new club mark… The 21 hits tie for the second-most in club history.

Lancaster 5, Staten Island 1
Staten Island 4, Lancaster 3

The Barnstormers had to settle for a split in the doubleheader on Saturday versus the Staten Island Ferry Hawks. After both teams survived a first inning rain squall and the skies cleared, once and for all, the series could get underway. 

The ‘Stormers started off strong in game one with a 5-1 win, spearheaded by a seven inning, one run quality start by Nile Ball. Ball (6-4) surrendered just three hits, one until the final inning, when Roldani Baldwin broke up his shutout bid, and struck out four.

The hits and runs were few and far between for both teams in both games. Wilson Garcia was responsible for the first one of the day, lifting a home run off of the right field foul pole.  Yeison Coca stole the show with the second one, capitalizing on a throwing error by Staten Island’s starter Jesse Remington and rounding the bases for a “little league” home run. Three runs gained on walks in the seventh was more than enough cushion to secure the win.

In game two, the ‘Stormers weren’t so lucky. Jared Lakind pitched five innings and only gave up two runs on four hits while striking out six, but the offense couldn’t find a groove.

With Lancaster trailing 2-1, Andretty Cordero tied the second game in the fifth inning with an RBI double scoring Coca all the way from first.  The game remained tied at two until the top of the eighth.  Zach Warren (1-2) attempted to cut down Luis Castro on a bunt by Ricardo Cespedes, but his throw was late.  Cespedes stole second, and Angel Aguilar was walked intentionally to load the bases.  Warren hit Chris Brito with a pitch and walked Kevin Krause to force home a pair of runs.

Lancaster could only counter with one, on a double by Ariel Sandoval, off Andrew Gross in the bottom of the eighth.  Gross earned his third save.

The decisive game three of the series is set for Sunday, July 30 at 1 p.m.  Lancaster will send right-hander Jeff Bain (2-0) to the mound against right-hander Ivan Pineyro (3-3).  Fans may tune into the game on FloBaseball at 12:55.

Lexington 6, York 2
York 11, Lexington 2

(July 29, 2023 – Lexington, KY):  The York Revolution offense went off in the nightcap as the Revs pounded the Lexington Counter Clocks 11-2 on Saturday night at Counter Clocks Field. The big attack followed a 6-2 loss in the opener as the Revs took the split, improving to 49-32 on the season and 12-6 in the second half, good for first place in the North Division.

Troy Stokes Jr. opened the scoring in the nightcap in the top of the first inning, belting a solo homer to left for a quick 1-0 lead. It was his 15th of the season and 99th of his pro career.

York starter Pedro Vasquez bounced back after going just one inning in his previous start, sailing through the first three innings scoreless.

Lexington induced a balk from Vasquez on a second disengagement with two outs in the fourth putting runners at second and third, and Jesus Tavarez capitalized with a two-run single up the middle, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.

York responded immediately in the fifth as Stokes Jr. hustled out an infield hit to keep the inning alive, and Drew Mendoza walked. The Revs took full advantage as Trey Martin slammed a go-ahead three-run homer to right center for a 4-2 lead on his career-high 11th long ball of the season.

The Revs went off in the sixth, scoring seven times to blow it open. Trent Giambrone and Jacob Rhinesmith singled home runs. Mendoza placed a two-run bloop double along the left field line, and Nellie Rodriguez lined a three-run homer to left, the 65th of his Revs career, moving within one of tying Andres Perez for third all-time. It marked the Revs’ sixth inning of seven runs or more this season as the lead ballooned to 11-2.

J.P. Woodward and Ben Dum handled the final two innings scoreless out of the Revs bullpen.

Vasquez (5-1) earned the win, allowing just two runs on three hits over five strong innings.

The Revs bounced back after trailing throughout the opener, despite a strong start from J.T. Hintzen (7-4) who saw his seven-game winning streak halted, two shy of a club record and tied for the third-longest in franchise history.

York played as the home team in the opener as the game was a makeup from a rainout in York on July 9.

Lexington struck first in the top of the second as Chris Brady barely stayed alive on a foul tip before lining an RBI triple to right that just glanced off the glove of Martin who made a sliding effort.

The Counter Clocks added an unearned run in the fifth as Brady reached on an error and scored on Brandt Broussard’s double to right center to make it 2-0.

Giambrone slugged a homer to left in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 2-1 on his 17th of the year.

Lexington kept York at a distance, responding with two runs in the sixth off reliever Will McAffer who lost a five-appearance scoreless streak. JC Encarnacion had the big hit with an RBI triple to right center and scored when Logan Brown bounced a single through a drawn-in infield to make it 4-1.

Martin doubled with one out in the bottom of the sixth to chase Lexington starter Yeudy Garcia (4-7) and after stealing third for his league-leading 32nd swiped bag, scored on Rodriguez’ pinch-hit single to left, bringing the Revs within 4-2.

Lexington tacked on two more (one earned) in the seventh against righty Emilker Guzman who made his debut after signing earlier in the day, scoring on a Connor Owings single and a sac fly by Encarnacion.

The Clocks had their leadoff hitter reach in four of the seven innings and went on to score all six of their runs in those innings.

The Revs are now 3-3 on their western swing having taken two of the first three in Lexington and will go for the series win on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. with Andrew Cabezas (1-0, 3.13) facing lefty Mike Kickham (1-4, 10.80). Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and FloBaseball.TV beginning at 1:45 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.

Notes: Martin has reached safely in 24 consecutive games, the seventh-longest streak in the league this season and the second-longest active streak. The Revs had three players cross the 60-RBI mark in Saturday’s doubleheader with Stokes Jr. extending his total to a team-leading 62 (sixth-most in league), Mendoza reaching 61, and Giambrone notching his 60th.

Roster Moves: York signed RHP Emilker Guzman on Saturday; the reliever spent six years in the Los Angeles Angels organization, posting a 2.97 career ERA including a 3.75 mark in 26 outings with High-A Tri-City this season. York also activated Vasquez to make Saturday’s start and placed starters Carlos Espinal and Tom Sutera on the temporary inactive list.

Gastonia 12, Long Island 5

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 29, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Gastonia Honey Hunters 12-5 on Saturday night in the middle of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

Gastonia’s offense was led by designated hitter Braxton Davidson. He finished with three hits, including a double and two home runs, driving in seven runs and scoring four times. Left fielder Pedro Gonzalez also homered twice, driving in four runs and scoring twice. 

Boog Powell launched a three-run home run in the game for the Ducks. The center fielder ended the night with three hits, four RBIs, a run and two stolen bases. Ruben Tejada, Carlos Castro and Jonathan Guzman added two hits apiece, with Guzman scoring a run as well. 

Honey Hunters starter Zach Mort (9-2) earned the win, tossing five innings of three-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out three. Ducks starter Joe Iorio (3-7) took the loss, giving up eight runs on seven hits and five walks over five innings with four strikeouts. 

The Ducks and Honey Hunters wrap up their three-game set on Sunday evening. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Inflatable Bats, courtesy of News 12 Long Island. It’s also a Sunday Family Funday, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Prior to the game, fans will be invited down for a Catch on the Field from 4:10 to 4:30. After the game, fans of all ages are also invited to take part in Kids Run the Bases. Right-hander Justin Alintoff (2-1, 4.03) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Honey Hunters southpaw Gunnar Kines (9-3, 3.46).

Charleston 5, Southern Maryland 4