GASTONIA, N.C. – Luke Napleton blasted two more home runs and the High Point Rockers scored runs in five consecutive innings in a 9-3 win over the Gastonia Ghost Peppers at CaroMont Health Park on Friday night.
Napleton now has 39 homers and 105 RBI, both franchise records for the Rockers. He leads the Atlantic League in home runs.
The Rockers are 22-33 in the second half and 51-67 for the season. Gastonia is 28-26 and 67-51.
Napleton had two hits, both home runs, and scored three runs to pace the Rockers. Quincy Nieporte led High Point with three hits while adding a pair of RBI.
Gastonia tallied first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Rockers starter Justin Jarvis (W, 3-4). Chris Proctor opened the frame with a walk and after stealing second, scored on a single by Grant Lavigne.
The Rockers plated two runs in the second without a hit. Gastonia starter Spencer Adams (L, 6-2) loaded the bases on three consecutive walks. Back-to-back ground outs by Nolan Watson and Aidan Brewer each resulted in an RBI as the Rockers went ahead 2-1.
Napleton hit his 38th homer of the season leading off the third inning to put High Point on top 3-1. Watson followed suit an inning later, blasting a homer to lead off the fourth to stake the Rockers to a 4-1 lead.
Gastonia reliever Eddie Leon hit Ivan Melendez with a pitch to open the fifth and that was followed by consecutive RBI doubles from Ethan Skender and Nieporte as the Rockers lead surged to 6-1.
Gastonia tallied a pair of runs off Jarvis in the sixth on an RBI single from Aaron McKeithan and a run-scoring fielder’s choice from Jace Rinehart.
Skender collected another RBI seventh when he drew a bases loaded walk from Randy Reyes in the sixth for a 7-1 advantage.
Napleton then hit is 39th homer of the season leading off the eighth and Nieporte recorded an RBI single to increase the High Point lead to 9-3.
Saturday’s game five of the six-game series will pit RHP Sam Ryan (2-4, 4.57) against Gastonia LHP Nick Horvath (7-3, 3.35). Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.
