Rockers Drop Fourth Straight after Southern Maryland Rallies
June 18, 2021 - Atlantic League (AtL)
High Point Rockers News Release
HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point Rockers were looking to end a three-game losing streak and thought they had nearly achieved that goal Friday night against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Holding a 7-4 heading to the ninth inning, the Rockers were three outs away from ending that short losing skid.
Instead, the roof fell in as Southern Maryland scored six times on seven hits in the top of the ninth and took a 10-7 lead. The Rockers went down in order in the bottom of the ninth in losing their fourth straight game.
"We're climbing that hill and we just need to get over the top," said Rockers' manager Jamie Keefe. "We're close and we will get over the hill."
The ninth inning collapse robbed Bryce Hensley of a win after he pitched into the seventh inning and left with a 6-3 lead. Hensley scattered six hits and allowed three runs while striking out two.
The Rockers had taken a 1-0 lead on Jared Mitchell's solo homer to left in the second inning off starter Brandon Barker. After the Blue Crabs scored three times in the fourth inning for a 3-1 advantage, Mitchell blasted another homer in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. It was Mitchell's fifth home run of the week and second multi-homer game in the last five days. Two batters later, catcher Logan Moore launched his first home run of the season down the right field line to tie the game at 3-3.
High Point took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth. James McOwen sliced a double into the left field corner, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Jerry Downs singled.
The Rockers added two runs in the seventh when Stephen Cardullo and Jerry Downs started the inning with consecutive singles. Randy Norris loaded the bases when he legged out an infield single. Pinch-hitter Cesar Trejo lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Cardullo and Downs would come around to score on a wild pitch.
Southern Maryland got one run back when Zach Collier hit a two-out solo homer in the eighth to cut the deficit to 6-4.
High Point took a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth when Michael Russell singled, moved to second on a single by McOwen, stole third and scored on a double down the left field line by Cardullo.
Brian Clark entered the game for the Rockers in the ninth inning to close out the 7-4 win but those plans went awry. The first two hitters for the Blue Crabs in the ninth recorded base hits before Matt Hibbert flew out to right to plate the first run. Kent Blackstone followed with an RBI single and pinch-hitter Jordan Scott followed suit to cut the Rockers' lead to 7-6. Southern Maryland's David Harris then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to put the Crabs up 9-7. Josh McAdams then sent a scorching line drive up the middle that hit Clark in the leg and sent him out of the game. Newly-signed Dylan Smith came on and gave up an RBI double to Zach Collier before Alex Crosby lined into an inning-ending double play.
Clark took the loss while Patrick Baker recorded the win. Mat Latos pitched a hitless ninth inning for SoMD to earn the save.
The Blue Crabs and Rockers continue their series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Truist Point.
NOTES
Rockers' RHP Mitch Atkins had his contract purchased by the Mexican League.
High Point signed RHP Dylan Smith who pitched at Belmont Abbey during the spring season.
The Truist Point crowd of 2,510 was the largest of the home season for the Rockers.
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