LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trailing 14-5 after six innings, the High Pont Rockers rallied for five runs over the final three innings before falling 14-10 to the Lexington Legends on Saturday night at Legends Field.

The Rockers (35-15) lead in the Atlantic League’s South Division is at six games after Southern Maryland (28-21) beat Gastonia 8-3 on Saturday night.

With 13 games remaining, the Rockers have a magic number of seven to clinch their second South Division first half title in the last three years.

The Rockers entered the day with the fifth-best winning percentage in professional baseball at .745.

The Rockers tallied three times in the first inning as Luis Gonzalez led off the game with his ninth homer of the year and, following a single by Drew Mendoza, Alex Dickerson blasted a two-run homer.

The Legends responded in the bottom of the second with five runs to take a 7-3 lead. J.T. Riddle started it with a hit off Rockers starter Pat Gardner (L, 0-1) followed by a Dylan Rock two-run homer. Pedro Gonzalez walked, stole second and scored on a double to right by Andy Atwood. Jerry Huntzinger then doubled off the wall in right to score Atwood and put the Legends ahead 4-3. Riddle’s single scored Atwood and Brady Whalen’s single brought home Riddle. E.J. Cumbo added an RBI single to complete the scoring.

Lexington grew its lead to 8-3 in the third when Riddle singled to score Brian Fuentes who doubled to lead off the inning.

The Rockers tallied twice in the fourth to close the margin to 8-5 in the fourth on an Aidan Brewer home run and back-to-back doubles by Gonzalez and Mendoza. But the Legends struck reliever Kyle Halbohn for two runs in the bottom of the fourth and four more in the sixth to surge to a 14-5 advantage.

The Rockers rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI double from Alex Dickerson and a two-run double by Max Viera. In the top of the eighth, Gonzalez hit a two-run homer to pull the Rockers to within four at 14-10.

Zach Vennaro kept the Legends scoreless in the seventh and Jameson McGrane retired the side in order in the eighth.

The Rockers were able to put a pair of runners on base in the top of the ninth but could not bring either around to score.

Lexington’s Wilton Castillo (W, 3-4) went five innings and allowed seven hits and five runs while striking out six. Jonathan Haab (S, 6) earned the save by pitching the ninth inning.

Gonzalez finished the night with three hits, three RBI and four runs scored while Dickerson had a pair of hits and three RBI. Riddled led the Legends with four hits and three runs batted in.

The series finale is slated for a 2 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon at Legends Field.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The High Point Rockers dropped their second consecutive game, falling 11-4 at the Lexington Legends at Legends Field in the opening game of a three-game series. It marked just the third time this season the Rockers have dropped back-to-back games.

The Rockers (35-14) magic number to clinch the Atlantic League’s South Division title stands at eight as second place Southern Maryland (27-21) lost at Gastonia, 5-2.

The Rockers started the day with the fifth-best record in professional baseball at .729. They trailed Pecos League members Garden City (17-2, .895), Tucson (16-4, .800),  and San Rafael (18-6, .750) and Mexico City (38-14, .731) in the Mexican Baseball League.

The Rockers trailed 4-3 in the fifth inning before Lexington scored five unanswered runs to take an 8-4 lead. The Legends added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and High Point tallied once in the ninth for the 11-5 final.

Lexington jumped on the board in the bottom of the first when, with two outs, Brady Whalen doubled and scored on an error by Rockers shortstop Aidan Brewer on a ball hit by Curtis Terry. Terry then scampered home on an error by catcher Jack Conley.

The Rockers tied the game with two runs of their own in the top of the third when Carlos Amezquita singled to right and scored on a double by Luis Gonzalez. Drew Mendoza followed with an RBI single to plate Gonzalez and knot the game at 2-2.

The Legends surged to a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third on back-to-back doubles from Whalen and Terry and an infield ground out by Pedro Gonzalez.

High Point cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Gonzalez’s eighth homer of the season, a solo shot.

But Lexington went up 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth on Whalen’s third double of the game and a two-run homer from E.J. Cumbo.

The Legends chased Rockers starter Cooper Casad (L, 1-2) in the sixth when J.T. Riddle doubled and scored on Dylan Rock’s two-run homer. Casad left after 5.1 innings, having allowed 11 hits and eight runs, six earned, and two strikeouts.

Jake Gilbert came on in relief and walked Whalen who then moved to second on a balk and advanced to third on an infield single by Curtis Terry. Whalen then scored on a wild pitch from Gilbert to put the Legends in command at 9-3.

Lexington starter Ben Ferrer (W, 1-1) exited after six innings, having scattered eight hits and allowing three runs on two walks and four strikeouts.

Reliever Michael Esposito came on in the seventh and walked Gonzalez and Mendoza to start the inning before inducing Ben Aklinski to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. After Esposito walked Braxton Davidson, Lexington manager Paul Fletcher pulled Esposito in favor of Jimmy Loper. Jack Conley greeted Loper with an RBI single to score Gonzalez. Alex Dickerson singled through the left side to load the bases but Loper fanned Brewer to escape the jam.

In the bottom of the seventh, Riddle line a shot into the left field corner that scored Jerry Huntzinger to put the Legends up 10-4.

Conley added an RBI single for the Rockers in the top of the ninth, one of his three hits on the day. Whalen went four-for-four for the Legends with four runs scored and an RBI.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday night at Legends Field with a 7 p.m. first pitch.

 

NOTES: Rockers pitching coach Frank Viola was ejected in the bottom of the seventh inning during a mound visit.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers extended their season-long winning streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep of the Staten Island FerryHawks on Wednesday night at Truist Point. The Rockers won the opener 6-2 and took the nightcap 10-4.

The win puts the Rockers at 35-12 on the season, the best record in the Atlantic League. High Point owns an eight-game lead over second place Southern Maryland (27-20).

Braxton Davidson hit a home run in each game, clubbing a three-run shot that traveled 456 feet in the opener and adding a 443-foot two-run homer in the night cap. Shortstop Aidan Brewer had four hits over the two games and Davidson finished the night with five RBI.

High Point’s Matt Solter (W, 7-1) became the first seven game winner in the Atlantic League, allowing the FerryHawks seven hits over seven innings while walking one and fanning seven. Solter’s complete game was his third of the season, setting a club record.

Tommy Doyle (W, 1-1) went five innings in the nightcap and struck out three while allowing just one walk in the 10-4 win.

The Rockers trailed 1-0 in the first game after Nate Scantlin hit a solo homer leading off the third inning for Staten Island. High Point took the lead with a five run bottom of the third, highlighted by a two-run double from Brewer and Davidson’s three-run shot.

Staten island took a 1-0 lead when Eddy Diaz led off the game with a first pitch homer off Doyle. High Point reclaimed the lead in the second on a two-run triple by D.J. Burt. With a 4-1 lead heading into the fourth inning, the Rockers exploded for four runs, two on Davidson’s blast and another pair on Drew Mendoza’s two-run double.

The Rockers and FerryHawks will play the final game of the series on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

Notes: The Rockers signed MLB veteran outfielder Alex Dickerson prior to Tuesday’s game. He started at DH in the second game and had a two-run triple in the third inning … Davidson’s homers were the first of his time with the Rockers … Solter’s third complete game broke the Rockers record of two in a season held by Jonah Scolaro and Bryce Hensley.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – The High Point Rockers won their fifth straight game with a 7-1 victory over the Long Island Ducks on Saturday night at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

With a 32-12 record, the Rockers have reached 20 games over .500 and maintain an eight game lead over second place Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League’s South Division with 19 games remaining to play.

The Rockers banged out 10 hits while High Point’s bullpen set down all nine batters they faced by fly outs.

High Point starter Cooper Casad (W, 1-1) went six innings and allowed just five hits and one run while striking out two and not allowing a walk. Long Island totaled five hits on the night and went down in order in each of the final three innings of the game.

In the bottom of the first, Long Island’s Cody Thomas doubled off Rockers starter Cooper Casad and one batter later, Troy Viola singled to right to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

The Rockers gained a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. With two outs, Luis Gonzalez singled off Ducks starter Ryan Sandberg. Sandberg then exited and Brad Case came on in relief. Max Viera grounded to short but the throw to first was wide, allowing Viera to take second and sending Gonzalez to third. With Braxton Davidson at the plate, a passed ball on Ducks catcher Justin O’Conner allowed Gonzalez to score and a subsequent wild pitch from Case brought home Viera.

The Rockers Ben Aklinski turned in a remarkable defensive play in the bottom of the sixth. After Chris Roller had singled to center, Long Island’s River Town flew out to Aklinski in center. Sensing that Roller was well off the bag, Aklinski unleashed a strike to first to double off Roller.

The Rockers threatened again in the seventh when Jacob Asa walked Aidan Brewer and D.J. Burt. A passed ball moved each runner up a base. Drew Mendoza then lifted a sac fly to right, bringing Brewer across the plate and giving the Rockers a 3-1 advantage.

High Point added an insurance run in the eighth when Viera singled, move to second on a single by Jack Conley and scored on Ian Yetsko’s single to center, giving the Rockers a 4-1 lead.

The Rockers added three more runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Viera and a two-run single by Davidson.

Kyle Halbohn put the Ducks down in order in the seventh and Stevie Branche did the same in the eighth while Dan Blair followed suit in the ninth.

Mendoza and Viera each recorded a pair of hits while Viera led all players with three runs scored.

NOTES: The Rockes have matched their season-long winning streak at five games . . . High Point is now 8-0 vs. North Division opponents this season.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – The High Point Rockers scored a couple of runs early in the game and made the lead hold up over the scoreless final six frames in taking a 3-1 decision from the Long Island Ducks on Friday night in the series opener at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

The win puts the Rockers at 31-12, the best record through 43 games in club history. High Point has an eight-game lead over second place Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League’s South Division.

Long Island took a 1-0 lead in the first off Rockers starter Kent Emanuel (W, 6-0). With one down, River Town singled and moved to second on a single by Troy Viola. Ronaldo Flores then singled sharply to left to plate Town with the first run of the game.

The Rockers used some two-out magic to tie the game in the second. With two down, Braxton Davidson drew a walk from Long Island starter Tyler Beede (L, 0-1). Jack Conley rallied from an 0-2 count to draw a walk and Aidan Brewer followed with a bloop single to right that scored Davidson and moved Conley to third. Beede was able to fan Cody Wilson to escape the inning and keep the game tied.

The Rockers tallied two runs in the third, again with two outs. Ben Aklinski singled and moved to third on a single by Luis Gonzalez. Max Viera doubled to right field to score both runners and give High Point a 3-1 advantage.

Emanuel went seven strong innings, holding the Ducks to six hits while not allowing a walk and striking out seven. Jonah Scolaro retired a pair of Ducks in the eighth but left with two aboard. Kyle Halbohn came on and struck out Justin O’Conner before putting the Ducks down in order in the ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Beede, who pitched in the Major Leagues last year with the Cleveland Guardians, was making his debut with the Ducks and fell to 0-1.

Viera finished with a pair of hits for the Rockers who had seven safeties on the night. The Rockers held the Ducks to six hits on the night while issuing three walks and striking out 10.

NOTES: The Rockers are now 7-0 vs. Atlantic League North Division opponents this year, having swept Hagerstown and Staten Island . . . Cody Wilson started in left field, seeing his first action since leaving the June 6 game with a slight injury . . . Emanuel joins teammate Matt Solter as the only six-game winners in the Atlantic League this season . . . Ben Aklinski extended his consecutive games on-base streak to 32 games.