GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers continue to search for their first win of the second half of the Atlantic League season after a 5-2 loss at Gastonia on Sunday afternoon. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to rain.
The Rockers are now 39-32 overall but 0-5 in the second half of the season. Gastonia improved to 49-21 and 5-0.
High Point starter Liam O’Sullivan (L, 0-1) held the Honey Hunters to just two hits in four innings before leaving the game with an injury. Unfortunately, the two hits were both solo home runs by Gastonia’s Zach Jarrett. The homers came leading off the second and with one out in the fourth inning.
Following Jarrett’s first homer, the Rockers tied the game in the third on Tyler Ladendorf’s solo homer to with two outs. Following Jarrett’s fourth inning homer, the Rockers tied the game in the top of the fifth when Gastonia starter Reilly Hovis allowed the first professional base hit to Rockers outfielder Cam Williamson. Jay Gonzalez sacrificed Williamson to second and Hovis walked Ladendorf before Quintin Torres-Costa (W, 4-2) was called from the bullpen. Jerry Downs singled to load the bases and Adam Taylor reached on an infield single to bring home Williamson.
O’Sullivan walked Jake Skole to start the fifth and then hit Luis Castro with a pitch to put two aboard. Jonathon Crawford came on and allowed a sac bunt to move runners to second and third before a wild pitch plated Skole to give Gastonia a 3-2 lead. Two more walks by Crawford loaded the bases before a Joseph Rosa single gave the Honey Hunters a 4-2 advantage. Nathan Bates relieved Crawford and Jarrett recorded his third RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly.
Jesus Balaguer pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one, to earn his 16th save of the season.
The Rockers outhit Gastonia 10-5 but were just two-for-eight with runners in scoring position while Gastonia went one-for-three with RISP. Taylor finished with three hits and Downs with two.
High Point will have an off-day on Monday and then start a three-game series at Lancaster starting on Tuesday.
