HIGH POINT, N.C. – On a night when the High Point Rockers celebrated the career of star outfielder Ben Aklinski, the fitting ending would have been Aklinski hitting yet another walk-off homer.

Alas, the final result, a 3-2 win by the Charleston Dirty Birds in 10 innings, was not the way it was written in the script.

Tied at 2-2 in the 10^th, Charleston used a walk, a ground out and a wild pitch to move the “ghost runner,” Alsander Womack, around to score to give Charleston the 3-2 victory.

In their regular season finale, the Rockers put two men on in the bottom of the 10^th but were unable to tie the game.

That Aklinski was unavailable at the end was a tribute to his outstanding four-year career as a Rocker in which he set club records for games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, home runs and RBI as well as a slew of other milestones. Rockers manager Jamie Keefe had pre-arranged to take Aklinski out in the seventh inning which he did to a standing ovation from the 2,520 fans at Truist Point on Thursday night.

“Ben exemplifies what it means to be a Rocker,” said Keefe following the game.

The loss ends the regular season with the Rockers and the York Revolution tied for the best full season record in the Atlantic League at 74-52.

Next up for the Rockers is a date with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers in the best-of-five ALPB South Division Championship which starts on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Gastonia’s CaroMont Health Park.

Thursday night, Charleston put runs up on the scoreboard first, tallying two in the second inning. Alan Alonso managed a lead-off single off Rockers starter Ben Wereski before moving to second on a single by Carlos Amezquita. Thatcher Poteat then doubled to right to score Alonso and Amezquita scored on an infield groundout by Benjamin Blackwell.

The Rockers tied the game at 2-2 in the third on an RBI single from Luis Gonzalez and a run-scoring double from Drew Mendoza.

The Rockers were held to five hits by Charleston’s pitchers. Reliever Parker Kruglewicz (W, 1-0) shutout the Rockers over his two innings of work in the eighth and ninth innings before turning it over to Nolan Lamere (S, 1) for the save. High Point’s Jameson McGrane took the loss, allowing a walk and two strikeouts in the top of the 10^th.

Saturday’s ALPB DCS game will be streamed live on FLOBASEBALL.TV  and available on the MixLR app.

NOTES: Ben Aklinski made his first start of the year at second base . . . He was removed from the game to a standing ovation in the top of the seventh and replaced by Ian Yetsko . . . Luis Gonzalez extended his consecutive games on-base streak to 32 with a first inning single . . . Luke Napleton finished the regular season with a .407 batting average though he will not qualify for the league statistics . . . Aklinski finished as the team home run leader with 32 while he and Drew Mendoza share the team RBI lead with 96.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Five High Point Rockers pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter in an 8-1 win over the Charleston Dirty Birds in front of a crowd of 2008 on Wednesday night at Truist Point. Charleston did not get its first hit until James Nelson led off the top of the ninth with a line drive single to right.

Josh Hendrickson (W, 1-0) made his High Point debut after coming over to the Rockers in a trade from the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association. Hendrickson went five hitless innings, walking three and striking out five.

Yuhi Sako kept the Dirty Birds hitless in the sixth with two strikeouts, David Hess did the same in the seventh and Cam Cotter tossed a clean eighth inning. Nelson singled off closer Jameson McGrane and Joe Deluca singled to center to score Nelson and prevent the shutout.

The Rockers tallied all the runs they would need during a five-run fifth inning. Braxton Davidson unloaded a solo shot to lead off the inning before the Rockers took advantage of three walks and an RBI single from Drew Mendoza and a two-run single by Luke Napleton as well as a run scoring on a wild pitch.

High Point added two more runs in the seventh on an RBI double from Aidan Brewer and another run-scoring wild pitch. Evan Edwards drove in the final run with a bases-loaded infield groundout in the eighth.

The Rockers took advantage of Charleston’s staff issuing 11 walks. High Point only had five hits in the game.

Charleston starter Marc Davis (L, 0-4) went 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on three hits while walking five and striking out five.

With one game left in the regular season, the Rockers have an opportunity to finish with the best overall record in the Atlantic League. High Point is 74-51 going into Thursday’s finale while the York Revolution are 73-52.

Thursday’s finale is slated for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch at Truist Point. Rocker fans can catch all the action of every game on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app,

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Drew Mendoza hit a grand slam and three High Point Rockers pitchers combined to throw six and one-third innings of perfect baseball as the Rockers opened a three-game series with a 12-5 win over the Charleston Dirty Birds Tuesday night at Truist Point.

Mendoza’s grand slam came as part of a six-run sixth inning that included an RBI single from D.J. Burt and a bases-loaded walk to Luis Gonzalez that propelled the Rockers to a 7-0 advantage.

The grand slam was the 14^th of the year by the Rockers, setting an Atlantic League record and tying the professional baseball record. The Class AAA Albuquerque Isotopes hit 14 slams in 2022. The Major League record is also 14, shared by the 2006 Cleveland Indians and the 2000 Oakland A’s.

The Rockers struck early and left no doubt to the outcome after Gonzalez led off the bottom of the first with a 419-foot blast off the video board for a 1-0 lead.

High Point starter Fin Del Bonta-Smith completed his scheduled two innings of work by retiring all six batters he faced with one strikeout. Erich Uelmen then put down all nine batters he faced in innings three through five. Scott Rouse struck out the side in the sixth before Alsander Womack blooped a soft line drive in center for the Birds’ first hit of the night.

As the Rockers prepare for Saturday’s start to the Atlantic League’s South Division Championship series with Gastonia, manager Jamie Keefe and Frank Viola carefully planned their pitcher’s workload in order to set their postseason rotation.

High Point added three runs in the seventh for a 12-0 lead as Evan Edwards drove in pair of runs and Ben Aklinski had an RBI single.

The Dirty Birds would not score until the eighth when they touched Zach Vennaro for five runs on four hits to make it a 12-5 game. Kyle Halbohn gained the final out of the eighth and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close the game.

WALDORF, Md. – Southern Maryland’s Brett Barrera hit a walk-off grand slam to lead the Blue Crabs to a 12-9 win over the High Point Rockers in 10 innings on Thursday night.

The slam capped a back-and-forth contest that featured five lead changes and some late-game heroics from the Rockers.

Trailing 7-5 after seven innings, Luis Gonzalez hit his 20^th homer of the season in the top of the eighth to pull the Rockers within one. In the top of the ninth, facing SMD closer Endrys Briceno, Evan Edwards belted a homer to left to tie the game at 7-7. It marked the first earned run allowed by Briceno in 13 outings.

The Rockers scored a pair of runs in the top of the 10^th to take a 9-7 lead as Gonzalez doubled home the ghost runner, D.J. Burt, before Drew Mendoza hit a ground-rule double to right to give High Point a two-run lead.

But Southern Maryland rallied for five runs in the bottom of the 10^th against Rockers closer Jameson McGrane (L, 1-1). Jackson Loftin doubled home the ghost runner and the Crabs drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and set the table for Barrera’s game-winner.

Gonzalez did more than his part, driving in a run in each of his final three at-bats of the game. He singled home a run in the sixth, hit a solo homer in the eighth and then doubled home another run in the 10^th. Gonzalez finished the night three-for-five with three runs scored and three RBI.

Gonzalez had three hits to extend his team-leading hitting streak to 12 games. He has reached base in 26 straight games.

The Rockers remain tied for the best record in the Atlantic League along with York at 71-49. High Point slipped back to third in the second half South Division race but the Rockers have already clinched a playoff spot by virtue of their first half championship.

Game four of the series takes place at 6:35 p.m. Friday night at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Rockers will send LHP Ben Wereski (3-4, 4.09) to the mound to face a yet-to-be-named Southern Maryland starter. Rockers fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

 

NOTES: The Rockers activated C Isaiah Mirabal from the inactive list prior to the game and placed INF Max Viera on the inactive list. Viera, whose mother is from England, will be playing  for Great Britain in the European Baseball Championship which is scheduled from September 20-27 in Rotterdam, Milan and Antwerp. Great Britain is grouped with France, Israel and The Netherlands and will open play Sept. 21 against Israel . . . Yuhi Sako, who pitched for the Rockers in 2024 and re-joined the team on August 31, made his debut on Thursday and allowed three hits and three runs in his one inning of work . . . Relievers Scott Rouse, Zach Vennaro and Kyle Halbohn each threw one shutout inning.

WALDORF, Md. – Ben Aklinski hit his 12^th career grand slam to key a seven-run eighth inning and lead the High Point Rockers to a 9-5 win over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Wednesday night at Regency Furniture Stadium. The seven-run inning helped the Rockers overcome a 5-1 deficit.

With the win, the Rockers improve to 71-48 overall and 30-26 in the second half while the Blue Crabs fall to 63-56 and 27-29. The Rockers moved into a tie for second in the Atlantic League’s South Division, three games behind Gastonia.

The Blue Crabs got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Ethan Wilson doubled, moved to third on a single by Brett Barrera and scored when Jamari Baylor grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Luis Gonzalez blasted a solo homer leading off the third to tie the game at 1-1. It was Gonzalez’s 19^th homer of the year and extended his consecutive games on-base streak to 25 games.

The Blue Crabs bounced back with a pair of runs off High Point starter Fin Del Bonta-Smith in the fifth inning. Baylor and Giovanni Digiacomo each singled with Baylor scoring on a wild pitch and Digiacomo scoring on a double by Sam Dexter. SMD added two more in the sixth for a 5-1 lead.

After Shawn Semple went six innings and held the Rockers to one run while striking out four, he was relieved by Brandon McCabe (L, 5-4) to start the seventh. McCabe walked Aidan Brewer and D.J. Burt before Cody Wilson’s bunt to third turned into an E5 with Brewer scoring. Ian Yetsko lifted a fly ball to left and Baylor dropped for another error with Burt scoring to make it a 5-3 game. A walk to Gonzalez loaded the bases and Aklinski took advantage, hitting his 32^nd homer of the season and his fourth grand slam of 2025 to put the Rockers up 8-5.

Aklinski now shares the club record for home runs in a season with Zander Wiel who hit 32 in 2023. It was Aklinski’s fourth grand slam of the season.

Evan Edwards followed with a solo blast of his own to give the Rockers a 9-5 advantage.

David Hess (W, 2-0) pitched 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit in earning the victory. Cam Cotter tossed a shutout inning in the eighth and Jameson McGrane struck out two in the ninth to secure the win.

 

 

Aklinski finished the night with four RBI while Edwards drove in two runs. Gonzalez scored three runs on a base hit and a pair of walks. Yetsko and Brewer each finished with two hits along with Aklinski and Edwards.

Game three of the six-game series is slated for a 6:35 p.m. start on Thursday at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Rockers will send righty Erich Uelmen (5-4, 3.75) to the mound to face Southern Maryland righty Andrew Thurman (7-1, 4.78). Rocker fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

NOTES: The Rockers made a number of roster moves before Wednesday’s game . . . High Point activated OF Cody Wilson from the injured list. He had been on the list since Aug. 13 . . . The Rockers also activated Yuhi Sako whom they signed on Aug. 31. Sako was with the Rockers in 2024 and made two starts, striking out 14 in 10.1 innings and pitching to a 1.74 ERA . . . RHP Andre Scrubb and Jake Gilbert were placed on the inactive list . . . The Rockers have not hit 13 grand slams as a team this season.

WALDORF, Md. – The High Point Rockers dropped the first game of a six-game series at Southern Maryland on Tuesday night, falling 6-1 at Regency Furniture Stadium.

The Southern Maryland pitching staff held the Rockers to just four hits on the night while striking out 12.

With the loss, the Rockers fall to 70-48 overall and 29-26 in the second half while the Blue Crabs improve to 63-55 and 27-28. The Rockers fell to third place in the Atlantic League’s second half standings, four games behind Gastonia and one game behind second place Lexington.

Hits were hard to come by for the Rockers in the early going. Luis Gonzalez led off the game with a single to left to extend his consecutive games on-base streak to 25. Ben Aklinski followed with a single and both runners moved into scoring position. Southern Maryland starter Jason Blanchard was able to wiggle out of the inning without allowing a run.

But High Point would not collect another hit until the sixth inning when they were down 2-0.

The Blue Crabs tallied a single run in the third when High Point starter Jake Gilber issued a two-out walk to catcher Lyle Lin. After singles by Jackson Loftin and Pearce Howard loaded the bases, Lin scored on a wild pitch before Gilbert was able to strike out Ethan Wilson to limit the damage.

SMD added another run in the fourth on a lead-off double by Brett Barrera and a sac fly off Lin.

The Rockers put their first run on the board in the top of the sixth when Alex Dickerson drew a lead-off walk, was sacrificed to second by Drew Mendoza and then scored on a douible off the wall in right by Evan Edwards to make it a 2-1 contest.

The Blue Crabs broke the game open with four runs on just a single base hit in the bottom of the sixth. Rockers reliever Zach Vennaro walked four in the inning, including two with the bases loaded, as Southern Maryland surged ahead 6-1.

Daniel Blair pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the Rockers, setting down all six batters he faced.

Jalen Miller (W, 9-6) earned the victory with two innings of relief of starter Jason Blanchard. Jackson Loftin and Brett Barrera each had a pair of hits for SMD.

Game two of the six-game series is slated for a 6:35 p.m. start on Wednesday at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Rockers will send righty Fin Del Bonta-Smith (2-3, 3.42) to the mound to face Southern Maryland righty Shawn Semple (6-7, 4.06). Rocker fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

NOTES: The Rockers placed RHP Gabe Klobosits on the 7-day injured list effective Sept. 7. He will be eligible to come off on Sept. 14.