HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers pounded out 18 hits while holding Charleston to just four in taking a 16-0 win over the Dirty Birds on Tuesday night at Truist Point. Righty Neil Ramirez had a successful Rockers debut, holding Charleston to just one hit over five innings.

Michael Russell continued his hot hitting, collecting three hits including a double. Russell became the first Rocker to reach 300 career hits and tied the club record by hitting a double in his fourth consecutive game. John Nogowski had five RBI including a three-run homer in the second and an RBI double in the seventh. Seven of High Point’s nine starters had at least two hits.

The Rockers struck for three runs in the bottom of the first. Shed Long, Jr. led off the game with a double, took third on a fly out to right by Russell and scored on a ground out by Nogowski. With two outs, Charleston starter Eddie Butler walked Zander Wiel and then hit Ben Aklinski with a pitch to put a pair of runners aboard. Catcher Beau Taylor singled up the middle to plate one run before Daikan Yoh lined a single to left to bring home Aklinski and give the Rockers a 3-0 lead.

The Rockers doubled the score in the second when Long, Jr. walked with one out and Russell doubled into the left field corner before Nogowski hit a three-run homer for a 6-0 advantage.

The score remained 6-0 until the fifth when Taylor singled, moved to third on a double by shortstop Ryan Grotjohn and scored on a single by D.J. Burt.

The Dirty Birds had the sky cave in in the eighth when the Rockers scored eight runs on six hits and an error. High Point sent 13 hitters to the plate in falling one run short of the all-time single inning scoring record of nine.

Ramirez made nifty work of the Charleston line-up, facing 17 batters in his five innings of work, striking out three and walking just one. He set down the first 11 Dirty Birds he faced before allowing a single to Dawel Lugo with two outs in the fourth. Cam Cotter, Gabriel Castellanos, Jameson McGrane and Austin Ross each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

High Point will continue its homestand on Wednesday when it hosts Charleston for game two of the series. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Long Island Ducks rode the hot bat of second baseman Daniel Murphy to take a 5-2 win over the High Point Rockers on Sunday afternoon at Truist Point.

Murphy, a three-time National League All-Star with the Mets and Nationals, hit a two-run homer in the first and added an RBI double in the eighth to spearhead the Ducks’ offensive attack.

Murphy’s homer gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead in the first and they would extend the lead to 3-0 when Luis Guerrero hit a solo homer leading off the fifth.

The Rockers made it a 3-1 game in the sixth when Michael Russell started the frame with a single before stealing second and third and scoring on an RBI single by Zander Wiel.

Long Island added a pair of runs off reliever Mickey Jannis in the eighth when Adeiny Hechavarria and Murphy hit back-to-back doubles before Murphy scored on a passed ball.

The Rockers rallied in the ninth when D.J. Burt doubled with two outs and scored on a triple by Shed Long, Jr. But Ducks’ closer Al Alburquerque retired John Nogowski to end the game and cement the 5-2 win.

The Rockers were led by Long, Jr. who had three hits including a double and a triple, and Russell who notched multiple hits for the third straight game.

James Marvel, in his first start as a Rocker, took the loss while throwing five innings, allowing four hits and striking out three. Long Island starter Stephen Woods, Jr. went fie innings and struckout six while allowing no runs and just four base hits.

“It was a well-played game,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “We battled all day and we had the best we could hope for, to have the tying run at the plate in the ninth. James (Marvel) controlled the zone, he just threw one bad pitch to (Murphy).

“Long Island played good defense and Murphy, he is such a good hitter, he’ll be back in the Major Leagues before the end of this year. We have to look at this weekend as we took two out of three and in that last one, we had a chance to tie the game in the ninth. That’s all we can ask for.”

The Rockers finished the game with 10 hits to nine for the Ducks. But seven of Long Island’s hits went for extra bases including five doubles and two home runs. Three of High Point’s hits were for extra bases including Long, Jr.’s double and triple and a double from Burt.

The Rockers will have Monday off before continuing their homestand with a three-game series with the Charleston Dirty Birds. Game one of the series is slated for 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2 with Neil Ramirez on the mound for the Rockers.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point starting pitcher Ben Braymer tossed a no-hitter through six innings and catcher Beau Taylor drove in six runs as the Rockers defeated Long Island 10-1 on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 3,447 at Truist Point.

The Rockers celebrated Coy Williard Night by nearly throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history.

Braymer, who pitched in the Major Leagues with the Washington Nationals, faced just one batter over the minimum through six innings before turning it over to the bullpen. The Ducks got their first hit with one out in the eighth and finished with two hits on the night.

“Ben was only going to go five innings but after five, he’d only thrown 51 pitches so we decided to let him go one more,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. Braymer finished with six innings of work, no hits, one walk and two strikeouts while throwing just 63 pitches.

“I felt good tonight,” said Braymer following his first appearance as a Rocker. “I thought Beau did a great job of calling the game. I have a lot of confidence pitching to him. And our defense was really good. They made some great plays behind me. Michael Russell at third base was a vacuum. And D.J. (Burt) ran down some balls in center. I thought it was a good collective effort tonight.”

While Braymer was shutting down the Ducks, the Rockers offense was out shooting ducks on the pond. Daikan Yoh, in his first at-bat as a Rocker, hammered a home run to right in the second inning to put High Point up 1-0. Russell, who had two doubles on Friday night, added a nother in the third and then came around to score on a sac fly by John Nogowski.

The Rockers maintained a 2-0 lead until blowing up for five runs in the seventh, sending 10 men to the plate. Taylor delivered the big blow with a bases loaded double scoring three. Ryan Grotjohn knocked home a run with a single and Ben Aklinski drew a bases loaded walk for an RBI.

Taylor added a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give him six RBI on the night, one off the franchise record.

After Braymer set the tone with his six hitless innings, lefty Gabriel Castellanos put the Ducks down in order in the seventh. Austin Ross allowed a walk and a single by Luis Guerrero, a slow roller through the right side of the infield as Lew Ford scored Long Island’s only run. Ross then retired the final two batters he faced. A.J. Cole gave up a single and then struck out a pair before Shed Long, Jr. recorded the final out by snagging a soft liner in shallow right-center.

“Fastball command was the key to my success tonight,” said Braymer who is now 1-0 on the season while the Rockers improved to 2-0.  “I had a few cutters and mixed in a few changeups and a few breaking balls here and there. My breaking ball wasn’t really there tonight so I had to stick with what was working and that was fastball command, moving the ball in and out all night.”

During pregame ceremonies, the Rockers honored Williard, a lifelong native of High Point and community leader for over 50 years. Williard was instrumental in the creation of the Rockers and the construction of Truist Point. He was recently diagnosed with ALS. Among the tributes given to him were a special contract that he signed, making him a Rocker for a day. Coy was given to the key to the city of High Point by Mayor Jay Wagner and it was revealed that Truist Point’s home plate gate has been renamed the Coy O. Williard Gate.

The Rockers and Ducks are scheduled to play the final game in the three-game series on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. High Point will send James Marvel to the mound as the righty makes his first appearance of the year. Long Island will counter with righty Stephen Woods, Jr.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers started the 2023 season with a win, defeating the Long Island Ducks 3-2 on Friday night in front of a crowd of 2,419 at Truist Point.

Rightfielder Ben Aklinski’s solo homer leading off the fourth inning broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Rockers their third Opening Day victory in four tries.

High Point starter Craig Stem and Long Island starter Brett Kennedy each allowed a first inning run as the Ducks’ centerfielder Boog Powell led off the game with a solo homer to right. The Rockers tied the game in their half when Michael Russell doubled, moved to third on a single by John Nogowski and scored on a wild pitch by Kennedy.

The top of the second inning ended when Long Island’s Luis Guerrero lined a shot back up the middle that hit Stem before the hurler was able to make the throw to first to retire the side.

But the liner forced Stem out of the game with a hand injury and Rockers manager Jamie Keefe had to go to the bullpen earlier than he planned.

The game was tied at 1-1 when rain brought it to a halt after one-and-a-half innings.

Following a 54-minute rain delay, the Ducks went ahead 2-1 in the third when Daniel Murphy singled and scored on a triple by Sam Travis. High Point tied the game at 2-2 when Shed Long, Jr. drew a one-out walk in the third, moved to third on Russell’s second double of the night and scored on a fielder’s choice by Zander Weil.

Aklinski led off the fourth with his homer and neither team would score the rest of the way as each club’s bullpens held the other scoreless over the final four innings.

Bryce Hensley earned the win with two innings of work, allowing three hits. Kyle Halbohn, Jeremy Rhoades, Cam Cotter and Jameson McGrane each tossed scoreless innings before Ryan Dull closed the game with a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth.

The save was Dull’s 14^th of his career, breaking him out of a four-way tie and making him the Rockers’ all-time save leader.

“Stem’s a big question mark,” said Keefe following the game. “It doesn’t look good. We’ll talk to the team doctor in the morning and we’ll know more then.”

Russell finished the night with three hits including two doubles that extended his Rockers’ career record to 66 career doubles. Aklinski and catcher Beau Taylor each finished with a pair of hits. Long Island was led by Powell and Murphy, each of whom had three hits.

But the story was the bullpen. High Point’s relievers threw seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out five while walking three.

The Rockers will remain at home Saturday night when they again host the Ducks at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. High Point community leader Coy Williard will be honored at the game. Fans will be treated to a postgame fireworks show and tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased online at HighPointRockers.com or at the Box Office. A four-for-$28 special will run through Saturday’s game with the use of the pass code COY.