HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers used an eight-run outburst in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie and go on to defeat the Lexington Legends 12-9 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Truist Point. The win snapped Lexington’s 12-game winning streak.
The Rockers improve to 20-31 in the second half and 49-65 on the year. Lexington leads the ALPB South Division at 33-18 and 59-55. They hold a 4.5 game lead over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
The Rockers were tied at three heading into the bottom of the fifth when Luke Napleton led off the frame with his league-leading 34th homer of the season, putting the Rockers up 4-3. A pair of singles and a Lexington error loaded the bases as Quincy Nieporte brought home a run on a catcher’s interference call. Ty Hubbard drew a bases loaded walk and Aidan Brewer delivered a sac fly to put High Point up 7-4 before Ryan McCarthy blasted his 20th home run of the season and second grand slam.
High Point allowed the Legends a run in the sixth, three in the seventh and two more in the eighth as the margin narrowed. Kyle Halbohn came on in the ninth with a 12-9 lead and put the Legends down in order to earn the save, his second of the season.
The Rockers found themselves in trouble in the first inning. A walk to PJ Hilson, a single by Curtis Terry and Brenden Dixon being hit by a pitch loaded the bases against Rockers starter Sam Ryan (W, 2-4). A sac fly from Tres Gonzalez and consecutive RBI single by Damiano Palmegiani and Jackson Feltner gave the Legends a 3-0 lead after a half.
The Rockers clawed back a pair of runs in the second off Legends starter Jack Lynch (L, 2-4). Colin Davis led off the frame with his first homer as a Rocker to cut the deficit to 3-1. After Ethan Skender drew a walk, he moved to second on a groundout by Quincy Nieporte and then stole third before scoring on Aidan Brewer’s sac fly to make it a 3-2 contest.
The Rockers tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning when Nieporte singled and scored on a double by Chris Brady.
Melendez, Skender and Nieporte each finished with a pair of hits and Brewer collected two RBI along with McCarthy’s four RBI day. Each team had 10 hits in the contest.
Following an off-day on Monday, the Rockers will embark on a six-game series with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers at CaroMont Health Park. First pitch on Tuesday is slated for 6 p.m.
Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.
