GASTONIA, N.C. – For the third consecutive night, the High Point Rockers and the Gastonia Baseball Club went to the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie game at Gastonia’s CaroMont Health Park. And for the third straight time, Gastonia emerged with a hard-fought one-run win. Kevin Watson, Jr.’s single to center scored Josh Stowers from second base and hand Gastonia a 5-4 win.
The win gives Gastonia (35-15) a four-game lead over the Rockers (31-19) in the race for the Atlantic League’s South Division pennant. There are 13 games remaining before the first half closes on July 5.
High Point closer Jameson McGrane (L, 2-2) retired the first two hitters in the ninth before Stowers doubled and came around to score on a single by Watson.
High Point had taken a 3-0 lead in the third when Brian Parreira drew a lead-off walk from Gastonia starter Mike Wright, Jr. before moving to third on a single by D.J. Burt. Ryan Grotjohn followed with a single, sending Parreira home with the first run of the game and landing Burt at third. Another single by Evan Edwards scored Burt as the Rockers went ahead 2-0. Colin Moran then hit a sac fly to left to plate Grotjohn as the Rockers took a 3-0 lead.
Gastonia got one run back in the bottom of the third when Jake Gatewood’s double scored Josh Stowers who had singled.
Gastonia tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Marc Flores following a walk to Eric De La Rosa. GBC then went ahead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth when Rockers starter Neil Ramirez Eric De La Rosa reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and scored on a single and an outfield error to put GBC up 4-3.
High Point loaded the bases against Gastonia reliever Steffon Moore in the seventh. D.J. Burt walked and Ryan Grotjohn singled before Evan Edwards was walked. Gastonia brought in reliever Nate Peden who struck out Ben Aklinski and induced Colin Moran to ground out to first with Burt scoring to knot the game at 4-4.
Austin Ross worked a scoreless seventh inning for the Rockers and Garrett Schilling came on the for the Rockers in the eighth and worked around a single and a hit batter to keep the game tied.
The Rockers were able to get the lead-off man on in the ninth when Burt singled but Grotjohn grounded into a double play to end the threat.
The Rockers will return home on Friday to start a three-game homestand with Southern Maryland. Game time is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.
