Legends Take Series Opener 9-4
June 15, 2021 - Atlantic League (AtL)
High Point Rockers News Release
HIGH POINT, N.C. - Lexington Legends starting pitcher Liam O'Sullivan threw five innings of no-hit baseball and allowed the Legends to post a 9-4 win at Truist Point on Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 1,657.
O'Sullivan was perfect through three innings and retired the first 10 hitters he faced after getting Cesar Trejo to strike out looking leading off the fourth.
With one out in the sixth, High Point left fielder James McOwen broke up the no-hitter when he blooped a soft single to left. First baseman Stephen Cardullo, a member of High Point's inaugural team in 2019 who signed with the Rockers earlier in the day, blasted a home run to left to tie the game at 2-2. It was the 23rd homer of his High Point career, having hit 22 with the Rockers in 2019.
Lexington, making its first-ever trip to Truist Point, scored twice in the first. Ben Aklinski doubled with one out and scored when D.J. Peterson followed with a double. Courtney Hawkins then looped a single to left to score Peterson and stake the Legends to a 2-0 lead.
After Cardullo's homer tied the game at 2-2, Lexington put up five runs in the seventh to take a 7-2 lead. Nefi Ogando relieved High Point starter Craig Stem at the start of the frame and gave up a double, a walk, an RBI single and then a two-run homer by Keon Barnum. Max Povse relieved Ogando and yielded a solo homer to Courtney Hawkins.
Stem went six innings in his best start of the year, scattering seven hits and striking out seven while walking just one.
The Rockers chipped back in the bottom of the seventh when Logan Moore singled and J.R. DiSarcina blasted his second homer of the year over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 7-4.
The Legends tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the ninth off reliever Cooper Casad. Two errors contributed to Lexington's final two runs.
High Point and Lexington will continue with game two of their series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at Truist Point. It will be Vaccination Night with all patrons receiving a complimentary outfield box seat by showing their official CDC Covid-19 vaccination card.
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