Rockers Hand Legends First Home Loss
June 27, 2021 - Atlantic League (AtL)
High Point Rockers News Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The High Point Rockers beat the Lexington Legends 6-0 on Sunday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Home runs by Jared Mitchell and Stephen Cardullo along with outstanding pitching helped the Rockers post their first shutout of the season.
The win by High Point marked the first time the Legends lost at home this year, snapping a 13-game winning streak.
High Point starter Luke Westphal (3-1) went seven innings, allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out nine in becoming the first Rockers pitcher to reach three wins. Preston Gainey pitched a hitless ninth inning to seal the win.
Starting pitchers Henry Owens (1-1) of Lexington and Westphal engaged in a classic pitcher's dual through the first five innings with neither team managing a run. Owens held the Rockers hitless through the first five innings and departed in the sixth after allowing one hit and three runs.
The Rockers scored five runs in the sixth inning with Jerry Downs delivering an RBI single, Stuart Levy a run-scoring double, and a two-run homer by Mitchell, his seventh of the year.
Leftfielder James McOwen swung and missed at strike three to lead off the sixth for High Point but he swung at a wild pitch that went to the backstop and allowed McOwen to reach first. Cardullo walked to put runners on first and second when Downs broke up the no-hitter with a sharp single to right, driving in McOwen.
Downs' single ended the day for Owens who was relieved by Daniel Gibson. Stuart Levy greeted Gibson with a double, his fifth in the last three games, that brought Cardullo in to score for a 2-0 lead and allowed Downs to move to third. Gibson then unleased a wild pitch alloweing Downs to score from third for a 3-0 lead.
Gibson then left the game with an injury, bringing on lefty Robert Carson with Levy on third. Mitchell then slammed his team-leading seventh home run of the year, the two-run shot giving the Rockers a 5-0 lead.
Cardullo slugged a solo homer with two outs in the eighth to put the Rockers ahead 6-0. It was Cardullo's third homer of the year and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Cardullo and Levy each had a pair of hits on the day.
John Fasola came on in relief of Westphal in the eighth and allowed a pair of hits but no runs before Gainey closed out the victory in the ninth.
After a day off on Monday, the Rockers will open a three-game homestand on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the York Revolution at Truist Point.
NOTES
Centerfielder Joe Johnson made his first career start and went one for three.
Stuart Levy has hit a pair of doubles in each of the last three games.
Wednesday's game (June 30) will start at 12:05 p.m. in a mid-week Businessperson's Special. Discounted tickets start at $5.
Atlantic League Stories from June 27, 2021
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- Rockers Hand Legends First Home Loss - High Point Rockers
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