Lancaster 13, Long Island 7
Lancaster launched four homers in the first five innings, building a 12-0 lead, then had to hold on for a 13-7 win over the Long Island Ducks in the opener of a three-game series.
With the win, the Stormers return to a four-game lead over both the Ducks and the York Revolution, who were idle. The magic number with regards to both is eight for the Stormers with 11 to play.
Gaige Howard launched the first Lancaster homer off Chris Ellis (1-1) in the top of the first. After Trace Loehr stretched the lead to 3-0 with a two-run double in the second, Isan Diaz launched a leadoff homer in the third for a 4-0 advantage.
Lancaster’s biggest inning was the fourth. Joseph Carpenter was hit by a pitch and scored on a one-out double by Loehr. Damon Dues dropped a single into shallow center for a 6-0 edge, took second on the throw and stole third. Second baseman Alexis Pantoja fielded Howard’s grounder to his right and fired home, barely missing Dues as the third run of the inning scored. Diaz tripled to left center, and Mason Martin crushed a homer to dead center as the bulge grew to 10-0.
Chris Proctor hit the final of the four homers, a two-run blast to right center off Rolando Casihis in the fifth.
Taylor Kohlwey drilled a two-run homer to right in the sixth to break up a shutout bid by Brady Tedesco, but the lefty settled back down, and Joe Stewart singled home a run in the bottom of the inning for a 13-2 edge.
Lancaster tried to force Tedesco through the seventh but had to make a change after the southpaw loaded the bases with one out. Leobaldo Cabrera picked up a four-pitch walk from reliever Kyle Johnson to force home one run. Kohlwey ripped a two-run double to the gap in right center to cut the lead to 13-5. Another run scored on an infield out.
Yonny Hernandez belted a long RBI double in the eighth to cut the lead to 13-7. The Ducks loaded the bags off newcomer Michael McAvene in the ninth. Scott Kelly struck a grounder on the left side, and Dues saved Loehr’s throw to get the final out on a force play.
Noah Bremer (9-6) will make the start for Lancaster on Wednesday. The Ducks will counter with right-hander Nick Tropeano (3-1). Fans may tune into FloBaseball, starting at 6:40.
NOTES: Martin has 11 homers in 11 games and nine in the last eight games against Long Island…Carpenter lost a nine-game hitting streak…Diaz has 49 RBI in 42 games…Stewart is batting .379 (22-58) in his last 14 games…The Stormers are 13-15 against Long Island for the year.
Lexington 3, High Point 2
HIGH POINT, N.C.- Despite a gritty pitching performance that saw Derrick Adams recover from a rocky start to shut down the Lexington Legends for seven innings, the High Point Rockers fell just short in a 3-2 nail-biter at Truist Point on Tuesday night.
Lexington came out swinging in the top of the first inning, jumping to a 3-0 lead. Korry Howell started the action with a double, followed by J.T. Riddle’s single that put runners on the corners. Howell scored on a wild pitch, giving the Legends an early 1-0 advantage. Moments later, Kole Cottam crushed a two-run homer deep to right field, bringing in Riddle and extending the lead to 3-0. Adams, however, quickly regained his composure, striking out Pedro Gonzalez and Brady Whalen consecutively before a groundout ended the inning.
The Rockers’ bats struggled early against Lexington’s starter Dustin Beggs, who retired High Point’s lineup in order through the first three innings, maintaining a perfect game into the fourth. Despite a strong defensive effort, highlighted by Martin Figueroa’s impressive catch in the top of the fourth inning, High Point remained scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Rockers finally found their spark. Ben Aklinski ignited the rally with a double to deep center field, followed by an Evan Edwards’ single, putting runners on the corners. Michael Martinez then reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Aklinski to score and put High Point on the board, 3-1. The Rockers continued to stay hot when Brian Parreira’s double to right field advanced Martinez to third. Martinez scored on a sacrifice fly by DJ Burt, narrowing the gap to 3-2.
Adams continued to dominate after the shaky first inning, holding the Legends scoreless for the rest of his seven innings on the mound, racking up six strikeouts in the process. Garrett Schilling relieved Adams in the top of the eighth and managed to keep the Legends from scoring, striking out two to hold the score at 3-2.
High Point had opportunities to tie the game in the eighth and ninth innings but couldn’t capitalize. In the bottom of the ninth, Edwards hit a double and advanced to third on a Lexington error, putting the tying run just 90 feet away. However, Lexington closer Nick Gardewine shut the door, striking out Martinez, before hitting Parreira with a pitch to put runners on the corners. DJ Burt then grounded into a 4-3 double play to close the book.
The Rockers (30-22) were four games back of South Division-leading Charleston (34-17). The Dirty Birds were leading Hagerstown 8-4 in the eighth and a Charleston win would give them a five-game lead in the division.
The Rockers will look to bounce back in their next matchup against Lexington Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. as they continue their final homestand at Truist Point.
Charleston 8, Hagerstown 5
Gastonia 7, Southern Maryland 2