High Point Rockers 6, Charleston Dirty Birds 3
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Ben Aklinski and Alex Dickerson each hit home runs and combined to drive in five runs as the High Point Rockers opened a three-game series with a 6-3 win over the Charleston Dirty Birds Tuesday night at Truist Point.
With a loss by the York Revolution on Tuesday night, the Rockers continue to hold the Atlantic League’s top overall record at 48-28 while York fell to 47-29. High Point is 7-6 in the second half and are in second place behind South Division leader Lexington.
Aklinski wiped out a 2-0 deficit with a three-run homer in the sixth, his 19th of the year. Dickerson blasted his eighth homer of the year, a two-run shot in the eighth, to put the Rockers up 5-2.
The Dirty Birds earned the first run of the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly from James Nelson, allowing Benjamin Blackwell to score off Rockers’ starting pitcher Ben Wereski to give the Dirty Birds a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Dirty Birds’ Jonathan Soto laid down a bunt single that straddled the first base line for a base hit, allowing Alsander Womack to score from third.
Aklinski’s homer in the sixth came off Charleston starter Jamison Hill (L, 2-8) who allowed five hits and three runs over six innings while striking out seven.
Gabe Klobosits (W, 1-0) earned the victory with two innings of hitless relief. David Hess made his Truist Point debut and allowed a run and two hits with two strikeouts in his two innings.
Dickerson’s homer in the eighth preceded a walk to Aklinski who then stole second and scored on an RBI single from Jack Conley and gave the Rockers a 6-2 lead.
The Dirty Birds were able to score an unearned run in the top of the ninth after a double by Zach Daniels and a pair of Rockers errors.
Jameson McGrane was able to retire the final batter of the game to earn his seventh save of the season.
The Rockers will take on the Dirty Birds again on Wednesday for the second game of a three-game series at 6:35 pm at Truist Point.
NOTES: RJP David Hess made his second appearance with Rockers tonight, his first at Truist Point. He tossed two innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out a pair. . . The Rocker reacquired INF Carlos Amezquita and he was activated in time for Tuesday’s game . . . Nick Longhi placed on the injured list on Tuesday while Jack Conley was activated from the inactive list . . . On Monday, RHP reliever Stevie Branche informed the Rockers that he will be retiring . . . Branche was 2-2 in 29 appearances with a 5.65 ERA, three saves, and 45 strikeouts in 28.2 innings . . . Aklinski’s homer traveled 412 feet while Dickerson’s was 387 feet.
Lexington Legends 7, Gastonia Ghost Peppers 6 (12 innings)
Gastonia, NC- The Legends travel down to Gastonia to take on the Ghost Peppers as they look to extend their six-game winning streak. Lexington and Gastonia have played 12 games against each other so far; the Legends are currently ahead 8-4 in the season series. Matt Hartman got the start for Gastonia. Hartman’s last start was against the Legends, where he gave up five runs. The starter for Lexington was Nic Laio, who earned his most recent win against the Ghost Peppers in their previous series.
The first inning blazed by as neither team was able to find any offense until Brady Whalen’s lead-off double in the second inning. However, he was left stranded as Hartman was able to force a putout before tallying two strikeouts. Brady Whalen made an amazing diving play in the bottom of the second to get the first out. Still, Carter Aldrete would leave the yard immediately after that in his first-ever plate appearance for Gastonia. The Ghost Peppers brought in their second run of the game with an RBI double hit by Jack Reinheimer that made it a 2-0 ball game.
Both teams went three up, three down to get the middle innings started. Ryan McCarthy would lay down a one-out single in the fifth before stealing second to get in scoring position, but he was ultimately left stranded. Xane Washington was able to find a hit in the sixth, but again, he was left stranded as the Gastonia pitching continued to dominate the game. However, the Legends infield was able to hold the Ghost Peppers in the sixth as Whalen made a sliding grab to send it to the final three frames.
Lexington was unable to score in the seventh despite Andy Atwood stealing second. Gastonia kept the pressure on with a one-out triple from Kevin Watson Jr, who was then subsequently driven in by Henderson Perez to extend the Ghost Peppers’ lead to 3-0 late in the game. Dylan Rock laid down Lexington’s fourth hit of the game with a single in the eighth, but the Gastonia pitching again thwarted the Legends’ plans. However, the Legends offense surged to life in the third, starting with Whalen and McCarthy laying singles before Brian Fuentes drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Jerry Huntzinger then waxed a double that bounced off the wall in left to bring in the first two runs. Paul Winland then snuck an RBI single into left that brought in two more runs to give Lexington the 4-3 lead. Gastonia wouldn’t bow down, though, as Carter Aldrete hit a lead-off moonshot to send it to extra innings.
Lexington got the extra innings started with an RBI single from Washington that allowed Dylan Rock to trot home and put Lexington back in the lead. However, Gastonia tied it right back up in the 10th as Lexington committed an error at second. The back-and-forth continued in the tenth when a sac bunt from McCarthy moved Atwood up to third, which allowed him to be driven home by a Winland sacfly. An Ethan Skender sac fly for Gastonia tied it up again in the bottom of the tenth. Winland was then thrown out trying to take third on a double play that set up Gastonia to bring in the walk-off run on a Jack Reinheimer RBI single.
Lexington falls 7-6 to Gastonia as their comeback falls short. This loss also marks the end of Lexington’s six-game winning streak, which was their longest of the season. However, Lexington remains in sole possession of the South Division with a 1.5 game lead over High Point. The win is credited to Ryan Hennen, whose record improves to 3 -1 on the season, and the loss is attributed to Carson Lambert, who is given his first loss of the season. The Legends and Ghost Peppers return to CaroMont Health Park for a midday matchup on July 23rd, with first pitch slated for 12:30 pm EST.
Hagerstown Flying Boxcars 5, Lancaster Stormers 1
The Lancaster Stormers dropped the first of a three-game home series against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars 5-1 on Tuesday night. Hagerstown is now 6-7 against Lancaster this season, and 13-50 against everyone else.
Left-handed starters Max Green and Quinton Martinez both had their stuff for Lancaster and Hagerstown, respectively. Each pitcher was unscathed through three innings until the Flying Boxcars drew first blood in the top of the fourth. First baseman Bryce Cannon led off the frame with a single to right. Two batters later, catcher Mark Black shot his second base hit of the night into left. Center fielder Tyler Williams then drove in Cannon with a single of his own, and Haggerstown had a 1-0 edge.
The Stormers immediately got that run back when Slater Schield, who entered the game earlier for an injured Nick Lucky, drove in Mason Martin with a well-struck single into center. But after that, the Flying Boxcars slowly but surely flew away from a stagnant Stormers club.
Hagerstown scored four runs in the next three innings. Cannon doubled home right fielder Cary Arbolida in the fifth. An inning later, second baseman Dante Leach followed up a Williams single with a triple to make it 3-1. In the next top frame, designated hitter Joe De Luca ripped a two-out, two-run double into right, and the scoreboard read 5-1 visitors.
While the Flying Boxcars were steadily getting runs home, the Stormers were finding every which way to leave them stranded. Lancaster left a total of 11 runners on base, nine of them between the fifth and eighth innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lancaster’s RBI leader, Mason Martin, came up with two outs and the bases loaded. The slugger fanned on three pitches. In the bottom of the eighth, recently acquired utility man Scott Kelly stepped to the dish with two in scoring position and two away. The Atlantic League veteran also struck out. It just wasn’t the Stormers’ night offensively.
The second game of the series gets underway at 6:45 on Wednesday. Righty Noah Skirrow (9-3) makes the start for Lancaster, while fellow right-hander Julian Minaya (0-6) takes the hill for Hagerstown. Catch the action on FloBaseball at 6:40.
Long Island Ducks 8, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 7
(Waldorf, Md., July 22, 2025) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 8-7 in 11 innings on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Southern Maryland took a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the third inning against Long Island starting pitcher Ryan Sandberg, highlighted by an RBI single from Jackson Loftin and a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Brett Barrera. The Ducks got to within 3-2 in the fourth on Chris Roller’s leadoff home run to left field and Seth Beer’s RBI double versus Blue Crabs starter Andrew Thurman.
The home team made it 4-2 in their favor in the home half of the fourth on Sam Dexter’s solo home run to left centerfield. The Flock tied the game at four in the top of the fifth as Roller went yard again launching a two-run shot over the fence in left. The home run derby continued in the bottom of the frame as Jamari Baylor’s two-run homer to left center put Southern Maryland back out in front 6-4. The visitors got even at six in the seventh when Beer plated a pair with a two-out base knock.
Long Island took their first lead of the evening at 7-6 in the top of the 10th on Cody Thomas’ sacrifice fly, but Southern Maryland answered in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own to knot the game at seven apiece as Ethan Wilson scored on a fly ball hit by Baylor. Justin O’Conner opened up the 11th with an RBI base hit to the opposite field in right that plated JC Encarnacion to put Long Island ahead 8-7, a lead the Flock would not relinquish as Jacob Asa closed things out to notch his first save in a Ducks uniform.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Sandberg allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits across five innings pitched, walking one and striking out four. Thurman tossed six innings of four-run ball on six hits to go along with a walk and six strikeouts. Sal Romano (1-0) gave up an unearned run without allowing a hit in one inning out of the bullpen while striking a batter. Cody Thompson (1-5) was tagged with the loss, surrendering a pair of unearned runs on three hits over two innings of work while striking out three.
Roller had three hits, including a pair of home runs, three RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases, while Beer had two singles, a double and three runs batted in.
The Ducks and Blue Crabs continue their three-game set on Wednesday night First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball. Sign up today by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Jonah Dipoto (2-2, 2.91) takes the mound for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty Connor Overton (2025 Debut).
Long Island returns home on Tuesday, July 29, to open a three-game set against the Staten Island FerryHawks. 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). It’s a Pat’s Marketplace Tuesday, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $5 off a purchase of $50 or more at Pat’s Marketplace as fans exit the ballpark. It’s also a Triple Play Tuesday, and if the Ducks turn a triple play during the game, one lucky fan will be a grand prize winner of $25,000. Tickets to the game and all Ducks games are now available and can be purchased by visiting the ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
Staten Island FerryHawks 12, York Revolution 7
(July 22, 2025 – Staten Island, NY): The York Revolution put together a strong offensive showing but were done in by a pair of big innings as the Staten Island FerryHawks took Tuesday evening’s series opener, 12-7 at SIUH Northwell Health Community Park. The loss snaps York’s three-game winning streak along with a five-game road winning streak that fell one short of a season-best.
The Revs jumped ahead with a first inning run on Frankie Tostado’s sac fly liner to left.
Staten Island quickly answered as Tyler Dearden smacked an RBI double to right center. With two outs, Revs starter Michael Horrell was forced to exit due to injury and lefty Jordan Morales inherited a 1-2 count, striking out Pablo Sandoval on one pitch to end the inning.
Ryan Higgins launched a towering solo homer down the left field line in the top of the second as the Revs led again, 2-1.
Staten Island enjoyed its first of two five-run innings in the bottom of the second. Drew Maggi singled home the first run and the damaging blow came from Mark Contreras who emptied the bases with a three-run double to right center. Sandoval added an RBI groundout to give the hosts a 6-2 lead.
The Revs chipped away as Marty Costes drilled a two-run homer to left in the top of the third, and Shayne Fontana landed a two-out bloop RBI double in left in the top of the fourth as the Revs battled back to within 6-5.
Cristhian Rodriguez led off the home fourth with an opposite field homer to left, inching Staten Island’s lead up to 7-5.
The Revs drew even in the fifth. Tostado cracked his second homer in as many games on a drive to right to start the inning, and Higgins completed the spirited comeback effort with a two-out RBI single to left center as the game was tied 7-7.
Staten Island immediately retook control with a five-run fifth. Eddy Diaz put the Hawks ahead to stay with the biggest swing of the night, a grand slam to left field. Matt Scheffler added a two-out RBI double to right center to close the scoring.
Neither team scored the rest of the way, as the Revs’ bullpen effort included two scoreless innings from Alex Bustamante and a scoreless eighth from Ian Churchill, neither of whom allowed a hit.
Trayson Kubo handled three scoreless out of Staten Island’s bullpen and Durbin Feltman took care of a scoreless ninth.
Staten Island starter Christian Allegretti (5-3) survived five innings (seven runs on 11 hits) to claim the win.
Alex Valverde (1-1) suffered the loss for the Revs, victimized by the five-run fifth in his second appearance since returning to York. It is the first loss of his Revs career, as he had been a combined 8-0 previously including two postseason victories last September.
Notes: The Revs (47-29) fall one game behind High Point for the league’s best overall record and remain tied for first place in the second half, now 8-5. Tostado ripped his 40th double of the season in the top of the seventh. He becomes the fourth player in Revs history to 40 doubles in a season and is one shy of tying the franchise record shared by Elmer Reyes (2022) and Drew Mendoza (2023). He becomes the 12th in league history to total 40 doubles in a season as his total of 40 ranks tied for eighth all-time; he is one shy of moving into a tie for fourth, two shy of tying for second, and 10 away from matching the league’s all-time record. With two RBI, he now has 21 RBI in his past 13 games and is batting .427 over his last 16 games after going 2-for-4. Higgins (2-for-4) is 9-for-15 on the current road trip and 14-for-25 over his last seven games. York falls to 7-9 against Staten Island on the season; at least one team has scored in double figures in 10 of the 16 meetings, as the average score is 7.6 to 7.2 in favor of the FerryHawks.
Up Next: The Revs will aim to even the series Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and FloBaseball.TV.