Charleston 3, High Point 1
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The High Point Rockers managed just three hits as Charleston salvaged the final game of the three-game series with a 3-1 win over the Rockers on Sunday afternoon at GoMart Ballpark.

D.J. Burt hit a triple in the fourth inning, John Daly singled in the fifth and Brian Parreira lined a single in the sixth to account for High Point’s three safeties.

The Rockers maintain a half-game lead over Gastonia in the second half race for the Atlantic League’s South Division pennant. The Rockers are 18-12 in the second half with the Honey Hunters at 17-12. High Point’s overall record of 59-34 remains the best record in the Atlantic League.

For the third straight game, the Dirty Birds struck first, going up 1-0 in the second as Yovan Gonzalez singled home Telvin Nash from second base. Nash was again the catalyst in the third, singling to score Jalen Smith who had singled and stolen second base to go up 2-0.

The Rockers put a run on the board in the fourth when Burt tripled and scored on a grounder to first by Ben Aklinski. High Point trailed 2-1 after four innings.

Charleston’s Dwight Smith, Jr. homered off High Point starter Mickey Jannis (L, 10-4) in the fifth inning to give the Dirty Birds a 3-1 lead.

Jannis went six innings and allowed seven hits and three runs while walking four and striking out seven. Charleston starter Danny Wirchansky (W, 5-4) also went six innings and held the Rockers to three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Three Charleston relievers, Ryan Clark, Jacob Bosiokovic and closer Yaramil Hiraldo kept the Rockers without a hit over the final three innings while allowing just one base runner.

The Rockers had their opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in the sixth and stranding Burt at third with one out after he had walked and then stolen second and third.

Nash finished with three hits for the Dirty Birds while Gonzalez and Miller each had two.

The Rockers will have Monday off and then start a three-game series at the Lexington Counter Clocks on Tuesday, August 15.

NOTES: D.J. Burt reached base with a walk and triple marking his 48^th consecutive game reaching base… The most by any Atlantic League player over the last four seasons is a 50-game streak by York’s Carlos Franco in 2022… High Point’s opponent has scored first in five straight games… The Rockers finished their season series with Charleston with a 9-3 record.

Gastonia 10, Long Island 7

Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Gastonia Honey Hunters 10-7 on Sunday evening in the rubber game of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

 Long Island jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings on Alex Dickerson’s sacrifice fly to left field and a wild pitch by Honey Hunters starter Brett Daniels that scored Brantley Bell. Gastonia got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Steven Moya scored on a wild pitch by Ducks starter Merandy Gonzalez.

A six-run fifth inning put the Honey Hunters on top 7-2. Zach Jarrett’s two-run triple, Braxton Davidson’s RBI fielder’s choice and David Washington’s three-run home run did the damage. Long Island closed the gap to three in the seventh on Lew Ford’s two-run homer down the right field line.

Gastonia answered with three runs in the ninth on Moya’s RBI single and Washington’s two-run homer to make it 10-4. Long Island responded with three of their own in the bottom of the ninth on Ford’s RBI single and Sam Travis’ two-run single, but they could not complete the comeback.

Daniels (3-0) earned the win, tossing five innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Gonzalez (3-3) took the loss, surrendering four runs on two hits and six walks in four innings with eight strikeouts.

Travis led the Ducks offensively with four hits and two RBIs. Ford added two hits, three RBIs and two runs.

The Ducks hit the road on Tuesday night to open a three-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Fans can follow all the action live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE. Left-hander Kyle Lobstein (3-3, 4.21) gets the start for the Ducks against Barnstormers southpaw Jared Lakind (7-3, 3.35).

Lancaster 7, Spire City 2

Mark Johnson went out to the mound after two leadoff walks in the third inning.

His words must have been magic.

Brent Teller settled down, and Lancaster pitcher retired 21 of the final 22 batters early Sunday evening to defeat the Spire City Ghost Hounds, 7-2, in the rubber game of a three-game series.

With the win, the Barnstormers took sole possession of first place in the North in a wild, four-way race with five weeks left in the season.  Southern Maryland trails by a game while York and the streaking Staten Island FerryHawks trail by 1 ½.

Teller (10-4) had allowed two runs in the second on a bases loaded single by Craig Dedelow.  In the third, with the score tied, 2-2, the right-hander walked Raudy Read and Chris Shaw in succession to start the inning.

Johnson took his first allotted time out to visit the mound.  Teller locked in, retiring the side in order to finish the third.  He matched the performance in the fourth, five and sixth innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen.  Teller finished the day having allowed four hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Zach Warren walked Eddy Diaz to start the seventh before recording two strikeouts of his own, then retired Jose Marmolejos on a grounder to first to end the inning.  Brandyn Sittinger set down the final six Ghost Hounds to close out the game.

Lancaster took control in the bottom of the sixth.  With one out, Joseph Carpenter rapped a single through the left side.  Shawon Dunston, Jr. ripped a ground ball off the glove of Read at first and raced to second with Carpenter going to third.  Anthony Peroni singled through the left side of the infield to score two.  Designated runner Chris Proctor scored on a single by Trace Loehr, and would eventually score the fourth run of the inning on a passed ball.

Dunston added a home run in the eighth, his fourth hit of the game, to cap the scoring.

The Barnstormers open a three-game series on Tuesday with left-hander Jared Lakind (7-3) taking on fellow southpaw Kyle Lobstein (3-3).  Fans may tune into FloBaseball at 6:25.

NOTES:  Mercedes extended his hitting streak to 10 games…He walked three times to increase his season total to 69…He has an OBP over .500 in the last 32 games…Dunston has eight extra base hits in his last eight games…Teller threw his fourth straight quality start and his ninth of the season…He has won eight of his last nine decisions.

Staten Island 4, Southern Maryland 3 (Game 1)
Staten Island 6, Southern Maryland 3 (Game 2)

Lexington 8, York 2