High Point 10, Gastonia 8
 

GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers tied the club record for the largest deficit overcome in a win as they opened a three-game set with Gastonia with a 10-8 win on Tuesday night at CaroMont Health Park.  The Rockers overcame deficits of 5-0 and 6-1 by scoring nine runs in their final four at-bats behind three home runs.

High Point had previously overcome five-run deficits on four occasions, most recently after trailing the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes 5-0 in May 2022.

The Rockers started slowly on Tuesday night, trailing 2-0 after the first as Gastonia struck for a pair of runs off High Point starter Neil Uskali. J.C. Escarra hit a solo homer, his eighth of the year with one out and that was followed an out later by third baseman Carlos Franco, also his eighth of the year.

The Honey Hunters added three runs in the fifth for a 5-0 lead. Cole Freeman led off the inning with a double and then stole third. Escarra slapped a single up the middle to plate Freeman. A walk to Franco put runners on first and second and Curtis Terry brought them both home with a double to left.

During the bottom of the third, Rockers first baseman John Nogowski was ejected from the game and manager Jamie Keefe soon followed.

High Point got on the board in the top of the fourth when Michael Russell tripled into the right-center gap and scored on a Michael Martinez ground out.

The Rockers again trailed by five at 6-1 when Gastonia’s Jack Reinheimer singled in the bottom of the fourth to score catcher Scott Manea who had doubled.

The Rockers began their comeback In the top of the sixth as Cam Williamson singled and Martinez hit his first homer of the season, a shot far over the left field wall to pull the Rockers within three at 6-3. High Point added another run when Brian Parriera, Nogowski’s replacement at first, singled and Zander Wiel was hit by a pitch. Ben Aklinski grounded to third and Gastonia was able to force Wiel at second but left Parreira and Aklinski on the corners. Ryan Grotjohn then singled to center to score Parreira and make it a 6-4 contest. Aklinski wound up at third and was able to score on a balk by Gastonia starting pitcher Ian McKinney to cut the deficit to one.

Gastonia added a run in the bottom of the sixth when Manea led off with a single. A bunt by Freeman was fielded by Uskali who threw the ball into right field, allowing Manea to score and leaving Freeman at third with Gastonia leading 7-5. Kyle Halbohn (W, 1-0) entered the game for the Rockers and allowed an RBI double to Escarra as Gastonia pushed its lead to 8-5.

In the top of the seventh, John Daly and Cam Williamson drew walks from reliever Bryan Blanton. Daly stole second and moved to third on a flyout by Russell. Martinez drove in his fourth run of the night when he grounded out to first, allowing Daly to score and make it an 8-6 game.

The Rockers opened the eighth inning against Gastonia reliever David Richardson (L, 2-1) with back-to-back singles by Aklinski and Grotjohn before Beau Taylor blasted a three-run shot to right to give High Point its first lead at 9-8. Russell then added some insurance with a solo homer, his first of the year, for a 10-8 Rocker advantage.

Ryan Dull pitched the ninth for the Rockers, earning his seventh save in seven opportunities. He continues his stretch of scoreless innings as he has now thrown 12 innings without allowing a run and just one hit. Dull has 22 strikeouts and just three walks this season.

Martinez’s four RBI on the night led the Rockers while Taylor accounted for three runs. Russell, Grotjohn and Taylor each had a pair of hits for the Rockers. Escarra finished the night with three hits and four RBI for the Honey Hunters.

High Point and Gastonia will play game two of the three-game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at CaroMont Health Park. The Rockers will send newcomer RHP Matt Solter to the mound to face Gastonia’s Zach Mort (3-0, 2.65). The game will be streamed live on FloSports and MixLR will carry the Rockers’ audio broadcast of the game.

York 7, Long Island 2

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 30, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the York Revolution 7-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. 

York took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning against Ducks starter Wladimir Pinto on a two-run single by Nellie Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Trey Martin. Long Island answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on Daniel Murphy’s RBI double to right-center off Revolution starter Tom Sutera.

The Revs extended their lead to 5-1 with single runs in the fourth and fifth on RBI singles from Trent Giambrone and Alexis Pantoja. A wild pitch by Sutera plated Adeiny Hechavarria in the fifth, closing the gap to 5-2. However, Drew Mendoza’s RBI double and John Nunez’s RBI single in the seventh pushed York’s advantage up to five.

Sutera (2-2) picked up the win, tossing five innings of two-run ball, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out four. Pinto (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on two hits and five walks in three and one-third innings with four strikeouts. 

Hechavarria led the Ducks offensively with two hits and two runs. Murphy added two hits and an RBI, while Sam Travis also had a pair of hits. 

The Ducks and Revolution continue their three-game set on Wednesday 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). It’s a Waddle In Wednesday at the ballpark! Fans will be able to purchase Long Island Ducks tumblers for just $15 (normally $22) at the Waddle In Shop throughout the ballgame. Left-hander Stephen Tarpley (1-1, 3.74) takes the mound for the Ducks against Revolution righty Pedro Vasquez (season debut). 

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 live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

Staten Island 13, Frederick 5

The tough stretch for Frederick continued on Tuesday night, and they have now dropped six of their last seven after dropping the series opener to Staten Island by a final of 13-5. 13 runs and 23 hits allowed are both new season and franchise highs for Frederick.

Staten Island scored runs in all but one inning on Tuesday night, chasing starter Dustin Beggs after just 3+ innings. All Staten Island starters recorded at least one hit, with Angel Aguilar and Jack Elliott both recording four. Both Aguilar and Elliott also drove in three runs, with Elliott launching two home runs and Aguilar finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. Aguilar's first inning homer kickstarted the offensive barrage for the Ferryhawks.

For Frederick, they got three of their runs in the fourth inning thanks to Jose Marmolejos blasting a three-run home run to right field. In the eighth inning, they were able to get two more courtesy of RBI doubles from Craig Dedelow and Marmolejos. Marmolejos finished the night with four RBIs.

On the mound for Staten Island, Christian Capuano, who entered the game with the league's lowest qualified ERA and opponent batting average, provided yet another strong showing. He covered six innings, allowing three hits while striking out five, with the only blemish being the Marmolejos home run. 

Frederick will look to bounce back and end a three-game skid on Wednesday when they give the ball to David Kubiak, with first pitch at 7 PM.

Lexington 12, Charleston 9