GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers rode the powerful bat of Luke Napleton to a come-from-behind 12-9 win over the Gastonia Ghost Peppers in a Wednesday matinee contest at CaroMont Health Park.
Down to their last out in the ninth and trailing 9-7, Napleton blasted his league-leading 36th home run of the year to tie the game at 9-9. After a scoreless 10th inning, Napleton hit a two-out, two-run homer to lift the Rockers to a 12-9 lead.
The Rockers improve to 20-32 in the second half and 50-66 on the year. Gastonia now stands at 28-25 and 66-50.
The game was a see-saw affair throughout. Ivan Melendez staked the Rockers to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the first, his 20th of the year. Gastonia tied the game in the third off Rockers starter Nick Trabacchi on Justin Wylie’s sac fly.
High Point put up five runs in the top of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead. Colin Davis hit his second homer as a Rocker leading off the frame before Ryan McCarthy hit a three-run shot, his 21st round-tripper of the campaign.
But Gastonia answered in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to close the gap to 6-5. The Ghost Peppers then plated four runs in the seventh, highlighted by a three-run homer from Wade Kelly, that left them with a 9-7 lead heading into the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Aidan Brewer beat out an infield single before Napleton’s two-out blast knotted the game.
After a scoreless 10th, the Rockers first two hitters in the eleventh were retired by Gastonia reliever Jake Miednik (L, 1-4). McCarthy poked a soft single over the bag at second to plate ghost runner Ty Hubbard from third before Napleton’s two-run blast put the Rockers in front 12-9.
Kyle Halbohn (W, 2-1) earned the win by keeping the Peppers scoreless in the ninth and 10th innings.
McCarthy and Napleton each finished with four RBI and Napleton had a game-high three hits. Napleton’s 37 homers this season is not only a club record but is the top mark in the Atlantic League.
Game three of the series will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday at CaroMont Health Park. Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.
