GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers dropped a 15-0 decision at Gastonia on Friday night at Caromont Health Park. Four Gastonia pitchers held the Rockers to four hits in the contest while the Honey Hunters had 21 hits including six doubles, a triple and four home runs.
Neil Uskali (L, 4-4) was tagged for five runs on 11 hits in five innings of work. Gastonia starter Alex Sanabia (W 5-5) went six innings and allowed two hits while walking one and striking out three. Giovanny Alfonzo had two hits for the Rockers while Zander Wiel and Roldani Baldwin each added a hit.
In the first, Gastonia Joseph Rosa singled with two outs and Zach Jarrett followed with a single. Luis Roman then doubled to right to score both runners and give Gastonia a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Jack Reinheimer tripled to right before Rosa doubled him home for a 3-0 Honey Hunter lead.
Jarrett hit a two-run homer in the fifth as Gastonia took a 5-0 lead before Jake Skole hit a two-run homer off Devin Fontenot in the sixth to make it a 7-0 contest. Consecutive doubles by Reinheimer and Rosa made it 8-0.
Gastonia added a solo run in the seventh on a solo homer by Luis Castro for a 9-0 lead. The Honey Hunters then scored six runs in the eighth, highlighted by an Emmanuel Tapia three-run homer, off Bryce Hensley.
Reinheimer, Rosa and Jarrett each had three hits for Gastonia.
The Rockers are now 17-23 in the second half and 56-50 on the season.
The Rockers and Honey Hunters will play the middle game of their three-game series on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at Caromont Health Park.