Gastonia 5, High Point 4
GASTONIA, N.C. – For the third consecutive night, the High Point Rockers and the Gastonia Baseball Club went to the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie game at Gastonia’s CaroMont Health Park. And for the third straight time, Gastonia emerged with a hard-fought one-run win. Kevin Watson, Jr.’s single to center scored Josh Stowers from second base and handed Gastonia a 5-4 win.
The win gives Gastonia (35-15) a four-game lead over the Rockers (31-19) in the race for the Atlantic League’s South Division pennant. There are 13 games remaining before the first half closes on July 5.
High Point closer Jameson McGrane (L, 2-2) retired the first two hitters in the ninth before Stowers doubled and came around to score on a single by Watson.
High Point had taken a 3-0 lead in the third when Brian Parreira drew a lead-off walk from Gastonia starter Mike Wright, Jr. before moving to third on a single by D.J. Burt. Ryan Grotjohn followed with a single, sending Parreira home with the first run of the game and landing Burt at third. Another single by Evan Edwards scored Burt as the Rockers went ahead 2-0. Colin Moran then hit a sac fly to left to plate Grotjohn as the Rockers took a 3-0 lead.
Gastonia got one run back in the bottom of the third when Jake Gatewood’s double scored Josh Stowers who had singled.
Gastonia tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Marc Flores following a walk to Eric De La Rosa. GBC then went ahead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth when Rockers starter Neil Ramirez Eric De La Rosa reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and scored on a single and an outfield error to put GBC up 4-3.
High Point loaded the bases against Gastonia reliever Steffon Moore in the seventh. D.J. Burt walked and Ryan Grotjohn singled before Evan Edwards was walked. Gastonia brought in reliever Nate Peden who struck out Ben Aklinski and induced Colin Moran to ground out to first with Burt scoring to knot the game at 4-4.
Austin Ross worked a scoreless seventh inning for the Rockers and Garrett Schilling came on the for the Rockers in the eighth and worked around a single and a hit batter to keep the game tied.
The Rockers were able to get the lead-off man on in the ninth when Burt singled but Grotjohn grounded into a double play to end the threat.
The Rockers will return home on Friday to start a three-game homestand with Southern Maryland. Game time is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.
Long Island 6, Staten Island 4
(Central Islip, N.Y., June 20, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Staten Island FerryHawks 6-4 on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
Staten Island jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning on back-to-back solo home runs by Alejandro De Aza and Pablo Sandoval off Ducks starter Bobby Vath. An RBI single to left field from Drew Maggi in the fourth extended the visitors’ advantage to three.
The Ducks closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth on Tyler Dearden’s solo homer to left field and Alex McGarry’s RBI single to right off FerryHawks starter Mike Shawaryn. An RBI double down the right field line by Dearden in the fifth tied the game at three.
Long Island took its first lead of the game in the sixth at 5-3 on McGarry’s two-run double to right. A solo homer off the bat of Luis Castro in the seventh closed the gap to one, but Dearden’s RBI single to center in the eighth restored the two-run advantage at 6-4.
Vath did not factor into the decision but lasted three innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out two. Wladimir Pinto (1-0) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless sixth inning, working around a hit and two walks with one strikeout. Shawaryn (4-3) took the loss, conceding five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks over six innings with one strikeout. Matt Seelinger earned his ninth save of the season with a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
McGarry led the Ducks offense with four hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Dearden added three hits, coming a triple shy of the cycle, plus two RBIs and a run, while Ivan Castillo recorded two hits and a run.
The Ducks continue their homestand on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. 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). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Forte Construction and TAP Electric. 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. Right-hander Stephen Woods Jr. (2-3, 6.00) gets the start for the Ducks against Flying Boxcars righty Marvin Gorgas (1-4, 8.03).
York 7, Hagerstown 5
(June 20, 2024 – York, Pa.): The York Revolution clawed back from another early deficit and once again came out victorious with a 7-5 win over the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars on Thursday night at WellSpan Park, completing a three-game sweep. York improves to a franchise best 32-18 through 50 contests, increasing its first place lead to six games with 13 to play in the first half.
Much like Wednesday night, Hagerstown got out to an early 3-0 lead, this time against York starter Jon Olsen who entered the night with a league best 2.63 ERA. Welington Dotel and Blake Berry knocked back-to-back run scoring singles and Tyler Hill followed with an RBI groundout.
York got a pair back in the bottom of the first, scoring on an RBI single to center by Donovan Casey and a ground rule double to deep right center by Jacob Rhinesmith.
York had a big opportunity to take the lead in the third inning when Rudy Martin Jr led things off with a walk and Casey followed with a double. Hagerstown starter Alex Katz was able to retire the next three to strand a pair in scoring position.
The Revs finally broke ahead in the fifth inning, thanks to the 20th home run of the season by David Washington, a three-run missile to right center to put York ahead 5-3.
Olsen (5-0) settled in on the hill after the tough first inning, striking out the side in the sixth inning to finish his night with seven punchouts, allowing only the three runs in the first. The seven strikeouts were one shy of tying a career high.
Hagerstown got two runners aboard to start the seventh inning against Denny Bentley and scored a run on a fielder’s choice to cut the York lead to 5-4.
Nelvin Correa allowed two baserunners in the eighth inning before being lifted for Matt Turner with one away. The lefty got Dariel Gomez to bounce into a fielder’s choice on a great stab and flip by second baseman Alexis Pantoja before retiring Andrew Moritz on a ground out to first base, stranding two runners to preserve the one-run lead.
Casey provided insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out, two-run single that ate up Cito Culver at third base.
Turner returned to the mound for the ninth, armed with a three-run lead. He proceeded to strike out the first two batters before the Boxcars scratched across a run on a single from Berry. Turner punched out Hill, who represented the tying run, to complete a five-out save, his fifth save of the year.
Notes: With the win, York completed its third sweep of the year (second at home) and dropped its magic number to eight to clinch a first half title. The six-game division lead is the Revs’ largest since September 1, 2011 and their largest ever in a first half. It is one game shy of matching the largest division lead in franchise history (7.0) set late in the 2008 season. York has won seven of eight overall and nine of its last ten at home. Olsen becomes the fourth pitcher in Revs history to start a season 5-0, joining Lorenzo Barcelo (2011), Tony Pena (2016), and Robert Carson (2019). Martin Jr reached safely in each of his first four trips to the plate, through which he had reached safely in eight of nine and 11 of 13 plate appearances. Casey’s three-hit performance extends his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games as he now leads the league with 67 hits; his three RBI give him 50 on the year, second in the league to Washington who also eclipsed 50 on Thursday night (52). Washington’s homer is his league-leading 20th of the year, three shy of a Revs record for a single half. He has hit seven long balls in the last seven games and now has 89 home runs in his Atlantic League career.
Up Next: York will host Lancaster for the first time in 2024 on Friday at 6:30 p.m., looking to increase its first place lead over second place Lancaster. It is Make Music Night presented by Cultural Alliance of York County featuring a Game-Worn Jersey Auction presented by Cultural Alliance of York County and a Kazoo Giveaway (first 1,000 fans). It is also WellSpan Wellness Weekend (Heart & Vascular). Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
Southern Maryland 8, Lancaster 2
The Lancaster bullpen walked eight batters and threw six wild pitches in the last four innings as Southern Maryland rallied for an 8-2 win over the Stormers Thursday evening at Regency Furniture Stadium.
It was a game that was split down the middle.
Over the first 4 ½ innings, the Stormers built a 2-0 lead. Matt Swarmer, making his first start of the season and dominated, striking out eight over four innings while allowing only one single. Kyle Kasser tripled with two outs in the second and scored on a single to center by Jack Conley. Conley was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth, stole second, took third on an error and scored on Damon Dues’ sacrifice fly to right.
Outside of those two innings, the Stormers spent the minimum of 21 batters to the plate. Spencer Johnston (2-0) yielded just three hits in the first seven innings while striking out 10. Cody Thompson faced only six batters over the final two innings despite a leadoff single by Dues in the eighth.
Nile Ball (4-2) entered in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Miles Williams lined a single to left field and took second on a base hit to right by Aaron Hill. The runners advanced on a passed ball, and Williams scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Hibbert. With two outs, Brandon Pugh tied the game with a single to left.
Ball walked Anthony Brocato to open the sixth and allowed a one-out single by Josh Broughton. Williams hit a slow bounder on the right side. First baseman Joseph Carpenter flagged the ball but sailed his throw to second base, allowing a run to score. Ted Stuka took over and walked two batters to force home another run. Caleb Marquez grounded a single up the middle to score two for a 6-2 lead.
The final two runs scored in the eighth on three walks and five wild pitches.
Lancaster will take on York on Friday evening at WellSpan Park. Fans may tune into FloBaseball, beginning at 6:25.
NOTES: Johnston became the first pitcher since York’s Andrew Cabezas (9/8/23) to strike out 10 Stormers in a game…Lancaster does not return to Regency Furniture Stadium in 2024…The Blue Crabs have a three-game series in Lancaster in August.
Charleston 14, Lexington 5
In a high-scoring affair on June 20, 2024, the Charleston Dirty Birds dominated the Lexington Legends with a final score of 14-5. Charleston’s offense was relentless, amassing 16 hits, while Lexington managed 9 hits but couldn’t keep pace.
Charleston Dirty Birds Highlights:
- Clint Frazier (LF) led the charge, going 4-for-6 with a triple and a home run, driving in 6 runs, raising his average to .276.
- Gabriel Cancel (SS) continued his impressive season, hitting 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, driving in 3 runs and scoring 3 times, bringing his average to .286.
- Keon Barnum (1B) contributed with a 2-for-5 performance, including a home run and 2 RBIs.
- Phil Ervin (DH), although not driving in any runs, went 2-for-3 and was hit by pitches twice, maintaining a .241 average.
- Juan Santana (3B) went 3-for-6, driving in a run.
- Aaron Brill (2B) showed his versatility with a 2-for-4 performance and a sacrifice bunt.
Lexington Legends Highlights:
- Matt Bottcher (2B) was one of the bright spots, going 2-for-4 with a double, bringing his average to .306.
- Pedro Gonzalez (RF) and Andres Sanchez (CF) each had multi-hit games, with Sanchez hitting a solo home run.
- Kole Cottam (DH) added an RBI single, maintaining his impressive .300 average.
Pitching:
- Stevie Ledesma (W, 1-0) earned the win for Charleston, pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 earned runs with 5 strikeouts.
- Javier Reynoso (L, 2-2) took the loss for Lexington, giving up 6 runs over 5 innings.
Charleston capitalized on their opportunities with clutch hitting and a powerful offensive display, while Lexington struggled to keep up despite some solid individual performances. The game lasted just under three hours and drew an attendance of 1,326 fans.