HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers’ five-game winning streak came to a halt on Wednesday night as the Charleston Dirty Birds took game two of the series by a 12-5 margin at Truist Point.
The Rockers were held without a hit for the first time this season, collecting 12 hits to Charleston’s 18.
The Rockers found themselves trailing for the first time this year when the ‘Birds tallied three runs in the third inning on a two-run double by Drew Ellis and an RBI single from Jared Carr. The Rockers scored a pair of runs in the fifth when Ryan Grotjohn tripled and scored on a sac fly from D.J. Burt. After Martin Figueroa singled, a pair of Charleston errors moved him to third where he scored on a sac fly from Connor Owings.
Charleston tallied nine times over their final four at-bats, Rusber Estrada hit a three-run homer in the seventh, and tallied three times in the ninth on three consecutive hits.
The Rockers made their last gasp at taking the lead with two runs in the seventh. A single by Figueroa and a walk to Ben Aklinski led to a two-run double from Owings.
While Aklinski was held without a hit for the first time this year, Owings continued his hot streak, collecting a pair of hits, including a double and drove in three runs.
Peter Solomon (l, 0-1) started and went four innings and allowed six hits and three runs while striking out eight. Charleston’s Kyle McGowin (W, 1-0) went five innings, yielding six hits and two runs while fanning four.
The loss leaves the Rockers at 5-1 on the season.
The third and final game of the series will take place on Thursday night at Truist Point. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.