High Point 4, Charleston 3
HIGH POINT, N.C – Martin Figueroa singled home Ryan Grotjohn in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the High Point Rockers a 4-3 walk-off win over the Charleston Dirty Birds on Friday night at Truist Point.
Figueroa’s single culminated a game-long effort in which the Rockers continually fought from behind all night before finally knotting the game in the eighth inning.
Charleston opened up with an off the wall triple from Gabriel Cancel in the first before being singled home by Courtney Hawkins for a 1-0 lead.
Hawkins, signed by the Dirty Birds earlier in the day, smacked a homer to right field and gave Charleston a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Charleston starting pitcher Gabriel Rodriguez held the Rockers hitless until the fifth when Grotjohn singled, moving Clayton Mehlbauer to third after he had drawn a walk. Gavin Johns followed with an RBI single for the Rockers first run.
Jared Carr homered for Charleston in the sixth to put the ‘Birds up 3-1.
High Point closed the gap to 3-2 in the seventh when Brian Parreira reached on a fielder’s choice, went to third on a single by Grotjohn, and scored on Johns’ second RBI single of the night.
The Rockers loaded the bases in the eighth on a walk to Connor Owings, a hit by pitch to Ben Aklinski and another walk to Colin Moran. Parreira’s sac fly plated Aklinski to tie the game at 3-3.
That set the stage for the Rockers’ game-winning rally in the ninth. Facing Charleston reliever Joan Martinez, Grotjohn drew a lead-off walk and Johns smacked his third hit of the night, putting runners on the corners. Figueroa then hit a hot smash that bounced past Charleston first baseman Dariel Gomez and into right, allowing Grotjohn to score the winning run.
Austin Ross (W, 1-0) earned the win by striking out a pair of ‘Birds in the top of the ninth and working around a pair of infield singles.
The win moved the Rockers to within one game of first place in the Atlantic League’s South Division. High Point is now 12-8 on the year while the loss puts Charleston at 13-7. Gastonia, which was rained out on Friday, is also in the hunt at 12-7 on the season.
The second game of the series will take place on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. It will be Veteran’s Appreciation Night with every Military veteran receiving four tickets for themselves and their family with military ID.
York 8-6, Lancaster 1-3
(May 17, 2024 – Lancaster, Pa.): After last Thursday’s game was suspended in the fourth inning, the York Revolution and Lancaster Stormers resumed on Friday afternoon as the Revs capped off an 8-1 win to complete a sweep. Shortly after, the two faced off in a seven-inning affair with York pulling off a late comeback for a 6-3 win to open the current weekend series.
The suspended game resumed with York leading 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning. York’s half of the inning was closed out on one pitch, and Chad Sedio got Lancaster on the board with a solo shot to right field in the home half. That nullified what had been a record setting scoreless streak (13.2 innings) by Jon Olsen to start a Revs career.
York got a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Rudy Martin Jr before Paul Mondesi drove in his first run of the season on a bloop double into shallow right field as the Revs’ lead swelled to 7-1.
Having been held hitless in his first four at-bats of the game, Matt McDermott kept his on-base streak alive with an RBI double to left center in the seventh to provide more insurance for York.
Olsen pitched into the ninth inning, retiring Sedio before Justin Farmer doubled to right-center field. Olsen (1-0) exited one out shy of tying a Revs relief record for innings pitched in a game, finishing at 5.1 innings while striking out seven batters along the way without issuing a walk. Tom Sutera recorded the final two outs of the game as York secured the 8-1 win and their first series sweep of the season.
With the regularly scheduled game shortened to seven innings, York opened the scoring in the second inning when Colton Welker went deep to right field for his first home run as a Rev.
Lancaster took the lead in the third inning, scoring a pair off York starter Chris Vallimont. Jack Conley led off the inning with a bunt single before Trace Loehr singled to put runners on the corners. After a walk to Shawon Dunston Jr loaded the bases, Vallimont hit Nick Lucky to force in a run before a second run scored on an RBI groundout.
York evened things back up at 2-2 in the fourth inning on a bloop double from Jacob Rhinesmith. The hit scored Donovan Casey who had reached on a one-out single and stole second.
Lucky drove a ball over the head of Casey in center field for an RBI double with one out in the fifth, giving Lancaster a 3-2 lead. Vallimont (2-1) battled, striking out two consecutive batters with runners on the corners to strand both and keep the deficit at one.
Trey Martin tied the game in the sixth inning with an RBI triple that saw Dunston crash into the center field wall. Jacob Rhinesmith plated Martin for the lead one batter later with a single up the middle, putting York ahead, 4-3.
David Washington led off the top of the seventh inning with a pinch-hit solo homer to right center off of starter Noah Bremer (1-1) who was still in the game. McDermott followed with a triple to left center and scored on a single up the middle from Casey (3-for-4).
Matt Turner entered the game in the seventh inning, looking for his second save in as many days with a 6-3 lead. Dunston and Lucky led off with soft two-strike singles before Christian Santana hit a sinking line drive to left field. Rudy Martin Jr ran the ball down and fired to second, doubling off Dunston for the second out. Turner struck out Gaige Howard to close out the win, giving York a 4-0 start to this season’s War of the Roses series.
Notes: McDermott and Kato extended their on-base streaks, reaching base in both games. McDermott’s streak is 16, while Kato extended his to 19. Washington has hits in all 13 games he has played with York with RBIs in all but two; his pinch-hit home run is the 10th in Revs history and first since Trey Martin on July 3, 2023 at High Point. York’s 8-2 road start remains the best in franchise history. The Revs’ 4-0 start to the War of the Roses series marks just the second time either side has started 4-0; Lancaster won the first four meetings in 2009 and the Revs’ previous best start in the season series was a 2-0 start (2015 and 2018). Olsen has now allowed just one run on 10 hits in 19.0 innings; he has struck out 28 and walked only two batters. The Revs’ 12-8 overall record matches their best 20-game start (2016).
Up Next: York lefty Zach Neff faces Lancaster southpaw Augie Sylk on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and FloBaseball.TV beginning at 6:25 p.m.
Southern Maryland 6, Long Island 5
(Waldorf, Md., May 17, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 6-5 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Long Island took a 3-0 lead in the second inning against Southern Maryland starter Daryl Thompson, with the big blow being a two-run home run to right field off the bat of Tyler Dearden. The Blue Crabs got to within 3-1 a half inning later versus Ducks starter Daniel Corcino courtesy of Alan Alonso’s RBI fielder’s choice. The Flock made it 4-1 in the fifth on Chance Sicso’s solo home run to right. Southern Maryland scored four times in the bottom of the frame for a 5-4 advantage by way of four Long Island errors and a two-run double from Anthony Brocato.
The Blue Crabs added a run in the sixth for a 6-4 cushion as Isaias Quiroz cracked a solo home run over the left field wall. The Ducks got to within 6-5 in the seventh on Frank Schwidel’s run-scoring base knock but would get no closer as Endrys Briceno would close things out in the ninth registering his fifth save of the season.
Thompson (1-3) notched the win, giving up four runs on nine hits (two home runs) in five innings on the mound, walking two and striking out one. Corcino (1-1) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs (two earned) on seven hits in five six innings pitched, striking out six.
Schwindel led the way for Long Island reaching base four times in five plate appearances with three hits, an RBI, a run scored and a walk.
The Ducks and Blue Crabs continue their three-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Charlie Neuweiler (0-1, 9.28) toes the rubber for Long Island against Southern Marylan righty Ian Kahaloa (1-2, 8.05).
Long Island returns home on Friday, May 24, to begin a four-game series against the Lancaster Stormers. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Doug Jennings Oversized Baseball Card as part of the 2004 Championship 20th Anniversary Series. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and as fans exit the ballpark, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for 20% off your entire check (dine-in) and 50% off your first online or mobile app order from Tap Room. Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
Staten Island 9, Hagerstown 2
Hagerstown, MD (May 17, 2024) – The Staten Island FerryHawks overpowered the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars with a decisive 9-2 win on a breezy Thursday night at Municipal Stadium. Stellar performances from both the FerryHawks’ hitters and pitchers led to their comprehensive victory.
The game started with a quick strike from Staten Island, as Kolby Johnson launched a solo homer in the first inning, his second of the season, setting the tone for the evening. Despite a quiet second and third inning, the FerryHawks came back to life in the fourth and fifth innings. A sacrifice fly from catcher Robert Brooks in the fourth brought home Pablo Sandoval, and then in the fifth, Brooks delivered again with a two-run single, extending the lead to 4-0.
Hagerstown’s first glimpse of hope came in the bottom of the fourth when Curtis Terry blasted a solo home run off FerryHawks starter Mark Faello, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Faello, who pitched four solid innings, allowed just one run on three hits while striking out three.
The FerryHawks’ bullpen continued the solid pitching with Christian Allegretti earning the win in relief. Allegretti, alongside relievers Joe Jones, Jimmie Sherfy, and Robbie Baker, stifled the Flying Boxcars’ lineup, allowing just one more run for the remainder of the game.
The Flying Boxcars’ second run came in the seventh inning when Terry doubled, driving in Eury Perez. However, that was the last gasp for Hagerstown’s offense as Staten Island’s bullpen shut the door firmly.
A late offensive surge sealed the deal for the FerryHawks. In the top of the ninth, Ben Norman crushed a grand slam off Flying Boxcars reliever Enrique Santana, his fifth home run of the season, putting the game out of reach at 9-2. Norman’s blast was part of a four-run inning that included an RBI single by Jeison Guzman.
The Flying Boxcars’ pitching struggled to contain the FerryHawks’ hitters. Starter Parker Markel (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs over 4.2 innings, walking six and striking out three. The bullpen didn’t fare much better, with Santana’s disastrous ninth inning inflating the final score.
The FerryHawks, led by contributions across the lineup, saw notable performances from Johnson, who not only homered but also walked twice, and Norman, who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Joe Dunand also had a solid night, going 3-for-5 and raising his average to .296.
With this victory, the FerryHawks improve their record, while the Flying Boxcars continue to struggle early in the season. Staten Island will look to continue their momentum in the next game of the series, hoping to keep their bats hot and pitching sharp.
The game, attended by 3,773 fans, lasted 3 hours and 3 minutes. The teams will face off again tomorrow, with the Flying Boxcars hoping to bounce back and the FerryHawks aiming to secure another win.