GASTONIA, N.C. – The Gastonia Honey Hunters pushed across a single run in the second inning and made it hold up in a 1-0 win over the High Point Rockers on Saturday night at CaroMont Health Park.
Reece Hampton singled to lead off the second against High Point starting pitcher Austin Glorius. Hampton then stole second and scored on a single to left by Alex Holderbach.
The Rockers left eight runners on base and were just 1-for-8 in batting with runners in scoring position. The Rockers left two men on base in the third inning and had a scoring opportunity in the eighth when Giovanny Alfonzo doubled with two outs but was stranded at second. Gastonia relievers Sam Bordner and Jesus Balaguer put High Point down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings.
The Rockers are now 0-4 in the second half of the season and 39-31 overall. Gastonia improved to 4-0 and 48-21.
Glorius (L, 3-5) went five innings and allowed five hits and the single run while walking two and striking out three. Lefty Jerry Keel (W, 5-3) went 6.2 innings for Gastonia and held the Rockers to four hits while walking two and striking out seven.
Besides Alfonzo’s seventh inning double, newcomer Kyle Maurice singled in the second and was followed by a single by Tyler Ladendorf but the Rockers left runners on second and third. Alfonzo also had a one out single in the fifth but was erased on a forceout.
The Rockers and Honey Hunters will play a doubleheader at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday in Gastonia. The twinbill was necessitated by Friday’s rainout.