by Alexis Taylor

HIGH POINT N.C.- Despite a late-inning surge, the High Point Rockers couldn’t overcome a powerful Lexington Legends offense, falling 6-3 at Truist Point on Saturday night in front of 2,901 fans. A two-run home run by Lexington’s Pedro Gonzalez in the seventh inning proved to be the dagger in the Rockers’ comeback hopes.

The game started strong for High Point’s pitching, as Jonah Scolaro set the tone with a quick first inning, striking out back-to-back batters to retire the side. Lexington, however, wasted no time getting on the board in the second inning when Justin Williams launched a towering 411-foot home run to give the Legends an early 2-0 lead after Jacob Barfield had reached on a single.

The Rockers’ offense struggled to gain momentum in the first half of the game. Ryan Grotjohn’s base hit in the first was High Point’s only offense through five innings, as Lexington starter Matt Reitz kept the Rockers’ bats quiet. Meanwhile, High Point reliever Stephen Ridings managed to hold the Legends scoreless through the sixth, pitching around multiple walks.

Lexington extended its lead in the seventh inning when Garrett Schilling took over on the mound for High Point. Korry Howell singled, followed by a JT Riddle RBI single to increase Lexington’s lead 3-0. A hit-by-pitch by Kole Cottam put another runner on base before Pedro Gonzalez crushed a three-run home run to center field, putting the Legends up 6-0.

The Rockers finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Ben Aklinski reached base after being hit by a pitch, and Grotjohn followed with a double to deep right. Evan Edwards’ sacrifice fly brought Aklinski home for High Point’s first run. Connor Owings drew a walk, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but the Rockers couldn’t capitalize, leaving the score at 6-1.

In the ninth, High Point made one last push. Aklinski’s base hit and a walk to Grotjohn set the table, and Edwards’ single drove in another run. Gilberto Jimenez followed with an RBI single to make it 6-3, but Lexington closer Nick Gardewine shut down the rally for the third time in this series, forcing a flyout to end the game.

The Rockers (32-24) will look to even the series in their final matchup against Lexington on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m., as they continue their final homestand at Truist Point.

The Rockers were not able to gain ground despite Charleston’s loss at home to Long Island on Saturday. The Rockers enter the final home game of the season at 32-24, four games behind the South Division leading Dirty Birds at 36-20.

by Alexis Taylor

HIGH POINT, N.C.- Behind a dominant performance from their pitching staff and timely hitting from DJ Burt and Ben Aklinski, the High Point Rockers secured a 4-1 victory over the Lexington Legends in the third game of their six-game series at Truist Point on Thursday night. The Rockers allowed just two hits all evening, with starter Yuhi Sako and relievers Garrett Schilling, Will Carter and Jameson McGrane combining to stifle Lexington’s offense.

Sako recovered from a shaky start to go six innings, allowing just one unearned run. The Legends took an early lead in the fourth inning when Kole Cottam reached on an error and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Barfield. But Sako settled in, allowing no further damage and retiring the last eight batters he faced until the bullpen took over.

The Rockers’ offense found life in the bottom of the fifth when Michael Martinez doubled to deep right field, setting up Burt for an RBI single that tied the game 1-1. High Point then broke the game open in the seventh, starting with a walk to Gilberto Jimenez. Frank Nigro followed with a clutch double into the right field corner that brought Jimenez home, giving the Rockers a 2-1 lead. Burt struck again with another RBI single, driving in Nigro to extend the lead to 3-1.

In the eighth inning, Aklinski added an exclamation point, launching his 26th home run of the season—a solo shot to left field that furthered the Rockers’ lead to 4-1.

The Rockers’ bullpen then took care of the rest. Schilling struck out the first batter he faced in the seventh, and Carter delivered a flawless eighth. McGrane closed out the ninth inning in dominant fashion, securing the Rockers’ win and ensuring their pitching staff’s gem of a night remained intact.

The Rockers (31-23) will look to continue their momentum in the next game of the series tomorrow night, where the final fireworks Friday presented by High Point University will take place after the game. Game time is 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With nearly every game a must-win game, the High Point Rockers rallied back from a 4-1 deficit on Saturday night to defeat the division-leading Charleston Dirty Birds 9-4 at GoMart Park.

The win puts the Rockers (29-20) four games behind Charleston (33-16) in the race for the Atlantic League’s South title with 14 games left to play.

High Point trailed Charleston 4-1 after five innings before scoring eight unanswered runs over the final four innings. The rally started with High Point stringing together four doubles in a three-run sixth inning. Connor Owings started the hit parade with a double and scored on a two-bagger by Ben Aklinski. Martin Figueroa doubled to plage Aklinski and Michael Martinez completed the inning with an RBI double that scored Figueroa and tied the game 4-4.

Owings hit a sac fly in the seventh to put High Point up 5-4 before Martinez hit a solo homer in the eighth to up the lead to 6-4.

The Rockers banged out two more doubles in the top of the ninth to score three times and increase the advantage to 9-4. Ryan Grotjohn led off the inning with a double and Owings drew a walk. Evan Edwards doubled home Grotjohn, Figueroa was hit by a pitch load the bases before Brian Parreira drew a walk to force home Owings. Martinez bounced out to bring home Edwards to send the Rockers to the bottom of the ninth with a 9-4 lead.

Mickey Jannis started for the Rockers and went four innings, allowing five hits and two runs with four walks and a strikeout. Justin Lewis yielded a pair of runs in the fifth before Kyle Halbohn shut down the Dirty Birds in the sixth. Garrett Schilling threw a hitless eighth and Will Carter (W, 1-1) struck out the side in the eighth. Jameson McGrane closed it out for High Point in his first appearance since returning from Mexico, allowing a walk and a strikeout.

The Rockers face another set of critical games on Sunday, playing at Charleston in a 4:05 p.m. doubleheader at GoMart Park.

High Point returns home on Tuesday and will host Lexington in the final homestand of the season. The first of the six games is slated for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch at Truist Point.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The High Point Rockers fell behind early, rallied to tie the game but eventually dropped a 4-3 decision in the series opener at Charleston on Friday night.

The Charleston win keeps the Dirty Birds (33-15) five games ahead of the Rockers (28-20) in the Atlantic League’s South Division. The two clubs will play three more times this weekend with a single game on Saturday at 6:35 and a doubleheader on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at GoMart Park.

The Rockers were held hitless for the first six and one-third innings by Charleston starter Stevie Ledesma. The 28-year-old righty allowed a walk to Evan Edwards in the second but put the Rockers down in order in each of the other innings.

Meanwhile, the Dirty Birds were building a 3-0 lead against Rockers starter Jeremy Rhoades. Juan Santana drew a walk in the third, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Phillip Ervin. Charleston extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Jared Carr singled and scored on a homer by Rusber Estrada.

After D.J. Burt flew out to start the seventh, Ledesma walked Ryan Grotjohn and gave up the Rockers’ first hit, an RBI double to Connor Owings. Owings then moved to third on a passed ball by Estrada. Ben Aklinski’s grounder to short allowed Owings to score to pull the Rockers to within a run at 3-2. Evan Edwards then tripled to center and Ledesma yielded to reliever Cristofer Ogando (W, 7-0). Another passed ball by Estrada allowed Edwards to score and tie the game.

Austin Warner (L, 1-2) relieved Rhoades in the eighth after the starter allowed eight hits over his seven innings of work. After a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, Warner allowed back-to-back doubles by Tillman Pugh and Jared Carr to put Charleston in front 4-3. Zach Vennaro was summoned from the bullpen and retired Estrada on a fly ball to right.

Charleston went with righty Pedro Garcia in the top of the ninth. He struck out Aklinski and retired Edwards on an infield bouncer back to the mound. Martine Figueroa then hit a 1-2 pitch through the right side for a single and Parreira did the same, moving Figueroa to third. Michael Martinez then hit a drive to deep right field which Pugh was able to track down just in front of the wall to lock up the Charleston win.

NOTES: The Rockers re-signed RHP Jameson McGrane on Friday. He had played the first half of the season in High Point then spent seven weeks pitching in Mexico. He leads the club with 10 saves… The Rockers also traded RHP D.J. Johnson to the York Revolution… High Point released OF Trey Martin and signed catcher Frank Nigro. Nigro, most recently with the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League, was with the Rockers during their inaugural season in 2019.

GASTONIA, N.C. (August 29, 2024) – The High Point Rockers unleashed a double-digit hitting attack for the sixth straight game in pummeling Gastonia 13-2 on Thursday night at CaroMont Health Park.

The Rockers finished the night with 15 hits, marking a club record sixth straight game with double digit hits. Martin Figueroa and Michael Martinez led the hit parade with three each while D.J. Burt, Connor Owings, Evan Edwards and Brian Parreira each chipped in with a pair of hits. Parreira, Owings, Edwards and Parreira each collected a pair of RBI.

High Point starter Matt Solter (W, 3-2) held Gastonia to four hits in his five innings of work with four walks and five strikeouts. The Baseball Club’s lone run before the ninth inning came in the fourth when Cam Williams hit a solo homer. Reliever Will Carter allowed a triple to Eric De La Rosa in the ninth and he scored on an infield out.

Jacob Edwards, Justin Lewis and D.J. Johnson each threw a shutout inning of relief.

The Rockers tallied a single run in each of the first three innings. In the first, Figueroa led off the game with a double and then a pair of walks from Gastonia starter Morgan McSweeney (L. 1-1)_ loaded the bases. Ben Aklinski then fouled out to the first baseman while Figueroa tagged and scored from third for a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Figueroa singled home Martinez and Martinez returned the favor in the third, singling home Edwards following a one out double.

The Rockers scored three times in the sixth. The frame started with consecutive singles by Martinez and Parreira. Figueroa’s single brought Martinez home and Parreira scored on a wild pitch. Burt then singled home Figueroa and the Rockers held a 6-1 lead.

Edwards drew a walk off Gastonia reliever Bryan Blanton to start the seventh and Parreira smashed a two-run homer to extend the lead to 8-1. The Rockers added three more runs in the eighth on a walk, three hits and a Gastonia error as the lead grew to 11-1.

Gastonia sent first baseman Marc Flores to the mound in the top of the ninth. He allowed two runs on a Ryan Grotjohn sacrifice fly and a Connor Owings ground out.

The Rockers are now 28-19 in the second half and riding a six-game winning streak. They will head to Charleston for a critical four-game series with the Dirty Birds. Charleston leads the South Division with a 32-14 record. Charleston’s home game with Southern Maryland on Thursday night was delayed due to rain. The Rockers are 4.5 games behind Charleston and two games in front of Gastonia,

NOTES: The 13-2 win marks the largest margin of victory for the Rockers over Gastonia, surpassing an 11-1 win in June 2023.

WALDORF, Md. (August 24, 2024) – High Point manager shook up his line-up and the Rockers responded with an overwhelming 11-2 win over Southern Maryland on Saturday night at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Left fielder Gilberto Jimenez had four hits to lead the Rockers’ 15-hit attack. High Point hit a season-high seven doubles while Jimenez, Trey Martin and Aidan Brewer all rocked home runs.

Jimenez scored three times and hit a pair of doubles while driving in a pair of runs. Ryan Grotjohn had three hits while Michael Martinez and Brewer each drove in a pair of runs.

The win leaves the Rockers at 23-19 in the second half, 5.5 games behind South Division-leading Charleston (29-14), which defeated Staten Island on Saturday night.

The Rockers used back-to-back doubles from Connor Owings and Martinez to score a pair of runs in the top of the first. Jimenez led off the game with a single and then stole second base. After Grotjohn flew out to center, Owings doubled off the wall in center to plate Jimenez. Martinez lifted a fly ball down the right field line that fell just out of the reach of any Blue Crab as Owings scored and Martinez wound up on second. Evan Edwards then singled home Martinez as the Rockers took a 3-0 lead.

High Point starter Matt Solter (W, 2-2) put the first three Blue Crab batters on base via a pair of hits and a walk. Anthony Brocato grounded to Martinez at third who stepped on the bag but his throw to the plate was not in time, allowing a run to score and leaving High Point with a 3-1 lead.

In the third Southern Maryland’s Josh Broughton singled, stole second and took third following a throwing error by Rockers catcher Nolan Watson. Broughton then scored on a sac fly off the bat of Jomar Reyes.

Trey Martin hit a mammoth homer to left off Southern Maryland starter Garrett Martin (L, 6-8) with one out in the fourth to push High Point’s lead to 4-2. Brewer followed with a double and scored on a Jimenez double to put the Rockers up 5-2.

Watson was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, moved to third on a double by Jimenez and then scored on a sac fly from D.J. Burt. After Alex Merithew replaced Martin, Grotjohn doubled home Jimenez for a 7-2 Rockers lead.

Aidan Brewer homered with Martin aboard in the top of the seventh as High Point surged to a 9-2 lead. Jimenez added a solo shot in the eighth with Martinez driving in Grotjohn to put the Rockers up 11-2.

The third and final game of the series is slated for a 2:05 p.m. start on Sunday at Regency Furniture Stadium.

NOTES: Manager Jamie Keefe shook up his line-up on Saturday, starting Gilberto Jimenez in left field, D.J. Burt in center and Trey Martin in right. The infield included Evan Edwards at first, Aidan Brewer at second, Ryan Grotjohn at short and Michael Martinez at third with Nolan Watson behind the plate…High Point will send Cam Bedrosian (6-3, 2.75) to the mound on Sunday to face Blue Crab righty Spencer Johnston (5-5, 5.86).