HIGH POINT, N.C. – Ben Aklinski hit a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the High Point Rockers to a 7-6 win over Gastonia on Sunday evening at Truist Point.

The High Point rally began when Cesar Trejo doubled to left-center with one out in the ninth and the Rockers trailing 6-2. Tyler Ladendorf grounded out to second before pinch-hitter Adam Taylor delivered an infield single to score Trejo and make it a 6-3 game.  Giovanny Alfonzo then drew a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch from Gastonia reliever Henry Martinez (L, 2-1) before Michael Russell added an infield single to load the bases.

Aklinski hit a 1-0 pitch deep over the wall in left off Martinez to score the three baserunners ahead of him and deliver a 7-6 win to the Rockers. It was Aklinski’s third walk-off hit of the season, his second walk-off homer, and the first walk-off grand slam in Rockers history.

“I’ve been struggling lately in sacrifice fly situations,” said Aklinski following his blast.  “I just told myself to hit the ball 300 feet in the air. It wound up going farther than that.”

Four Gastonia pitchers had held the Rockers to just five hits all game before the ninth inning. Honey Hunter starter John Anderson was perfect through four innings until allowing Wiel’s lead-off double in the fifth.

“We had zero momentum all day,” until the ninth inning, said Aklinski.

The Honey Hunters had built a 4-0 lead on a pair of home runs by Emmanuel Tapia, a three-run shot in the second off starter Sam Burton and a solo homer in the fourth. The Rockers made it a 4-1 game in the fifth when Zander Wiel doubled and scored on an infield out by Ladendorf. High Point cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth on a Giovanny Alfonzo double and an RBI double by Jerry Downs.

Gastonia went up 5-2 in the seventh on Luis Castro’s run-scoring double and 6-2 in the eighth on a double by Alex Holderbach and a bases-loaded walk issued to Castro.

The walk-off win provided reliever Ryan Dull (W, 3-0) with the victory after he pitched a scoreless top of the ninth.

Newly-signed Sam Burton made his first starter and went five innings while allowing four runs on four hits and six walks. Two other new members of the Rockers, Gabriel Castellanos and Cole Aker, each threw an inning of relief as did lefty Bryce Hensley.

“Seeing (Aklinski’s) smile coming around the bases said it all,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “He’s been struggling lately. But we know we just needed to keep ourselves in the game and when you have the top of the order coming to bat, you’ll have a chance.”

The Rockers are now 43-40 overall and 4-13 in the second half while Gastonia moves to 58-24 and 14-3.

The Rockers will enjoy a day off on Monday and then head to Lexington, Ky. to face the Wild Health Genomes in a three-game series starting Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers rallied late but came up short in a 5-3 loss to Gastonia on Saturday night at Truist Point.

The Rockers trailed 5-1 in the ninth and were facing Gastonia’s ace closer Jesus Balaguer. Jerry Downs opened the inning with a single and moved to third on a double by Quincy Latimore. Balaguer then unleased a wild pitch that scored Downs with Latimore moving to third. Ladendorf lined a single to left to score Latimore and make it a 5-3 game. But Balaguer fanned Jay Gonzalez and pinch-hitter Cesar Trejo before Giovanny Alfonzo’s sinking liner to center was caught by a sliding Jake Skole to end the threat and cement Gastonia’s 5-3 win.

High Point had taken a 1-0 lead in the first when Zander Wiel walked, moved to second on a single by Downs and scored on Latimore’s RBI single. The Honey Hunters tied the game in the fourth on an infield single by Reece Hampton and an RBI double by Zach Jarrett.

Gastonia nudged across a run in the sixth off reliever Junior Rincon (L, 0-1). Hampton, who scored three of Gastonia’s five runs, started the inning with a double and scored on a sac fly by Joseph Rosa to put Gastonia ahead 2-1.

Following High Point’s single run in the second, the Rockers managed just one more hit until the ninth inning, that being an infield single by Ben Aklinski in the third that was erased when Downs hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

Gastonia scored three times in the eighth inning off High Point reliever Kyle Mott. Hampton drew a walk then scored from first on a double by Jack Reinheimer. Rosa followed with a two-run homer to put the Honey Hunters ahead 5-1.

High Point starter Ivan Pineyro went five innings and allowed just three hits and one run while striking out three. Rincon allowed the lone run on two hits and struck out two in his two innings of work.

Gastonia starter Mason McAlister (W, 2-0) went five innings and allowed three hits and one run while walking two and striking out two.

The Rockers are now 3-13 in the second half while Gastonia improved to 14-2. The Rockers are 42-40 overall and tied with Kentucky for the top spot in the wildcard race in the Atlantic League.

The two clubs face-off in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at Truist Point.

NOTES: Two Rockers pitchers retired following Saturday night’s game . . . Johnny Barbato and Austin Glorius each announced the ending of their career . . . Former Norther Guilford High School pitcher and NC State alum Cam Cotter made his professional debut on Saturday, throwing a scoreless ninth inning for the Rockers . . . He struck out Hampton for his first professional strikeout.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Quincy Latimore launched a two-out solo homer to left in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and lift the High Point Rockers to a 2-1 lead over Gastonia in front of 2,471 fans at Truist Point.

The Rockers were just 1-11 against Gastonia this season as the Honey Hunters won the Atlantic League’s South Division first half championship and built a solid lead in the second half with a 13-2 start. The Rockers are now 3-12 in the second half.

Latimore’s home run came off Gastonia’s Sam Bordner (L, 9-5).

High Point took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Giovanny Alfonzo drew a walk off Gastonia starter Onas Farfan, moved to second on a single by Ben Aklinski and scored on a single by Zander Wiel.

Gastonia tied the game in the top of the fifth as Joseph Rosa started the frame with a walk off High Point starter Craig Stem. Rosa went to third on a single by Zach Jarrett and scored when Luis Roman grounded out in the infield.

Bryce Hensley (W, 2-2) put the Honey Hunters down in order in the seventh and eighth and earned the win. Ryan Dull struck out two in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the season.

“Any time you can put the game in the hands of Bryce Hensley and Ryan Dull, you know you’re in good shape,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe.  “We had some opportunities early and didn’t capitalize on them. Gastonia has had our number all year and this is the first time they didn’t capitalize on our mistakes.”

High Point and Gastonia will play the second game of this three-game series on Saturday night at Truist Point with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The High Point Rockers dropped an 11-6 decision to the Lexington Legends in the rubber match of the three-game series at Wild Health Field on Thursday night. The game was scheduled for seven innings due to the lack of available pitching for both teams.

The loss gives the Rockers a 41-38 overall record and a 2-12 record in the second half.

The Rockers fell behind 3-0 in the second inning when High Point starter Liam O’Sullivan (L, 0-2) allowed a single to Jordany Valdespin, an RBI double by Rusber Estrada, an RBI double by Montrell Marshall and a run-scoring single by Boog Powell.

High Point made it a 3-2 game with a pair of runs in the fourth. Zander Wiel singled, Jerry Downs hit a ground-rule double and Quincy Latimore delivered a two-run single.

Lexington extended its lead to 4-2 in the fourth on a solo homer by Powell and then put up five runs in the fifth inning off O’Sullivan and reliever Chasen Bradford. Estrada and Cesar Cuevas each doubled, Powell delivered an RBI single and Phillip Ervin hit a two-run homer.

The Rockers rallied with four runs in the sixth inning starting when Chris Proctor drew a bases-loaded walk from Legends starter Thomas Dorminy (W, 5-3). Michael Russell doubled home two runs and Ben Aklinski sent an RBI single to left to pull the Rockers within three runs at 9-6.

Marshall hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Jonathon Crawford to put the Legends up 11-6.

The Rockers threatened in the seventh. Downs hit a one-out double, his third hit of the night off Legends reliever Austin Adams. Giovanny Alfonzo and Proctor drew walks to load the bases with two outs. But Adams was able to fan pinch-hitter Jay Gonzalez for the final out of the game.

High Point will return home on Friday to start a three-game series with South Division leader Gastonia. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The Rockers will celebrate Christmas in July, presented by Old Dominion Freight Lines. Any fan can receive a free outfield ticket by bringing three or more canned goods for donation to the Salvation Army.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The High Point Rockers and the Lexington Legends engaged in one of the strangest games in the brief history of the Rockers franchise on Wednesday afternoon at Wild Health Field. In the end, the Rockers came away with a 25-9 win with no less than 19 records set or tied.

For those in a hurry, here’s what you need to know:

• The Rockers overcame an early 5-2 deficit with a pair of eight-run innings in the third and eighth
• Third baseman Michael Russell hit for the cycle, the first Rocker to ever do-so
• The Rockers set a record by hitting three home runs in one inning
• The Rockers twice had players hit back-to-back home runs

And on the other hand, the Rockers set records for the most walks issued in a game with 15 and provided Lexington with three runs via bases-loaded walks and another on a passed ball.

And all of this in a modest four-hour game that will go down as the longest game in club history.

Things started off well for High Point with Russell opening the game with a lead-off double in the top of the first. That was followed by a Logan Morrison RBI double and a Jerry Downs RBI single to give High Point a 2-0 lead after the first half inning.

But High Point starter Austin Glorius opened the bottom of the first by throwing 14 consecutive pitches outside of the strike zone and walking the bases loaded. After striking out Isaias Tejeda, Glorius was able to get Manuel Geraldo to bounce into a force out, scoring one run, but that was all the Legends could tally.

The Rockers went down in order in the second before Lexington struck four times in the second. Glorius allowed a lead-off double to Montrell Marshall then issued two more walks to load the bases. A third walk to Boog Powell forced in one run. After a mound visit, Glorius walked Phillip Ervin to force home another run and give Lexington a 3-2 lead. Kyle Mott came on in relief and allowed a run on a passed ball and another run on a bases-loaded walk. At the end of two, the Legends led 5-2.

The Rockers retaliated by scoring eight runs in the top of the third. The newly-acquired Cesar Trejo drove in High Point’s first run with a sacrifice fly. Tyler Ladendorf hit a three-run home and Jay Gonzalez made it back-to-back homers with a solo shot. After a walk to Giovanny Alfonzo and a walk to Mike Gulino, Russell blasted a three-run homer. High Point led 10-8 after three innings.

The Legends plated a run in the sixth to pull within a single run at 10-9 when Pete Yorgen singled to score Rusber Estrada.

High Point then threw up another eight-spot in the top of the seventh. Henry Owens replaced Brett Schneider on the mound for Lexington and hit the first two batters he faced in Downs and Ladendorf. A sac bunt by Gonzales moved the runners up a base. A walk to Gulino loaded the bases before Alfonzo singled home two runs for a 12-9 lead. Russell reached on a fielding error by Lexington third baseman Cesar Cuevas with Gulino coming home to make it 13-9. Ben Aklinski’s sac fly and an RBI single by Logan Morrison made it a 15-9 game. Zander Wiel then poked a two-run homer to left and Downs followed with a blast to right for an 18-9 Rockers lead.

Bryce Hensley pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings for High Point and the Rockers added another six runs in the top of the ninth. Pitcher Jonathon Crawford pinch hit and walked before Yorgen, the catcher turned pitcher, induced fly ball outs from Downs and Ladendorf. Gonzalez singled, Gulino doubled home a run and Alfonzo walked. Russell then singled to drive in a run before Aklinski hit a grand slam for a 25-9 lead.

Joe Johnson pitched the ninth inning for the Rockers and while he walked two, High Point turned a double play to keep the Legends from scoring any more runs.

After Russell’s game-starting double, he singled and homered in the third inning, singled in the sixth, reached on an error in the seventh, and achieved the cycle with a triple in the eighth. He added another single in the ninth as he finished the day with a club record six hits and six runs scored.

Russell on the day was 6-for-7 with a double, triple, home run and four RBI. Aklinski was 2-for-3 with a double, homer and team-high five RBI. Ladendorf was 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI while Downs was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a homer and Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a homer.

The Rockers improved to 41-38 overall and 2-11 in the second half.

High Point and Lexington will play the final game of this three-game series on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Wild Health Field.

TEAM RECORDS SET:
Most runs, game: 25
Most runs, game, both teams: 34
Most home runs, inning: 3
Most home runs, game: 6
Most RBI, game: 22
Most extra base hits, game: 11
Most total bases, game: 45
Highest slugging percentage, game: .978
Largest margin of victory, game: 16
Longest game (time): 4:06
Highest OPS, game: 1.496
Most walks issued, inning: 6
Most walks issued, game: 15

TEAM RECORDS TIED:
Most RBI, inning; 8
Most total bases, inning: 15
Most consecutive home runs: 2

INDIVIDUAL RECORDS SET
Most at-bats, game: 7, Michael Russell, Logan Morrison
Most runs scored, game: 6, Michael Russell

INDIVIDUAL RECORDS TIED
Most extra base hits, game: 3, Michael Russell

LEXINGTON, KY, – The High Point Rockers lost to the Lexington Legends 6-1 on Tuesday night at Wild Health Field in Lexington.

Jay Gonzalez led the Rockers with three hits including a double. Jonah Scolaro took the loss, allowing six hits and four runs over 3.1 innings while striking out five.

The Rockers are now 40-38 overall and 1-11 in the second half of the Atlantic League season.

The Rockers took a 1-0 lead with a run in the second when Tyler Ladendorf led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a single by Jay Gonzalez and scored on a single by Giovanny Alfonzo.

Scolaro allowed a double to Courtney Hawkins leading off the third before walking Manuel Geraldo. Rusber Estrada then hit a three-run homer that was followed by a solo homer from Montrell Marshall to give the Legends a 4-1 lead.  Estrada added a solo homer in the fifth to go ahead 5-1.

In the sixth, Boog Powell tripled and Hawkins walked. With runners on first and third, the Legends executed a double steal with Powell taking home to put Lexington up 6-1.

Lexington starter David Lebron (W, 3-2) went five innings and allowed five hits and five walks while striking out six.

High Point and Lexington will play the middle game of this three-game series at noon on Wednesday at Wild Health Field.