Jannis rocks Ferryhawks, 9-4

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers overcame an early 3-0 deficit and went on to top the Staten Island Ferryhawks 9-4 on Tuesday night at Truist Point. Rockers starting pitcher Mickey Jannis became the third Rocker pitcher to win 10 games in a season as he improved to 10-4 on the season.

The Rockers maintained their one-game lead over Gastonia in the Atlantic League’s second half South Division race. High Point improved to 57-31 overall and 16-9 in the second half. The Honey Hunters, after a win over Spire City on Tuesday, stand at 56-32 overall and 15-10 in the second half.

The Ferryhawks took a 1-0 lead in the first when Chris Brito scored from third when Luis Castro was picked off first by Jannis. That lead grew to 3-0 in the third when Brandon Pugh hit a lead-off homer and Yoshi Tsutsugo singled home Angel Aguilar.

The Rockers knotted the game in the third when a pair of walks from Staten Island starter Nick Beardsley (L, 2-4) and a single by Shed Long, Jr. loaded the bases. Beau Taylor drew a walk to force home the first run before Zander Wiel delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.

Staten Island added a  run in the fourth for a 4-3 lead as Jack Elliott slapped a two-out double and scored on an RBI single by Brandon Pugh.

The Rockers surged back in front with a pair of runs in the fourth, taking a 5-4 lead. Ryan Grotjohn doubled and went to third on an infield single by D.J. Burt. Ben Aklinski followed with a triple in the right-center gap to plate both baserunners.

High Point grew its lead to 9-4 after scoring four runs in the fifth on just one hit. The Rockers took advantage of four walks issued by Staten Island hurlers as well as a pair of errors as Brian Parreira’s bases loaded double plated three of the four.

Jannis came out after five innings, allowing five hits and four runs while walking two and striking out 4. He received outstanding support from the bullpen as Jeremy Rhoads put the Ferryhawks down in order in the sixth and Sam Selman struck out the side in the seventh. Jameson McGrane picked up three strikeouts in the eighth before Ryan Dull closed it out with a three-up, three-down ninth.

“(Beardsley) got us the last time out,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe of the Staten Island starter who tossed six innings and allowed one run in a 5-1 Ferryhawk win on July 12. “The guys finally settled in and got themselves in a hitter’s count. He’ll get you into one.” Beardsley came out four innings on Tuesday, having allowed six hits and five runs while walking five and striking out two.

“Mickey (Jannis) settled in and his best stuff of the night in the fifth inning,” said Keefe. “In our four games last week, only four guys threw out of the bullpen and we knew the bullpen needed some work. The bullpen was awesome.”

Burt and Wiel each had a pair of hits to lead the Rockers while Parreira had three RBI and Wiel and Aklinski had two each. Pugh led the ‘Hawks with a pair of hits.

High Point and Staten Island will play the second game of the three game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The game will be live streamed on FLO Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.

NOTES: Jannis became the third Rocker pitcher to win 10 or more games in a season, joining Tommy Lawrence (11-3) in 2021 and Joe Van Meter (10-6) in 2019… He also became the third Atlantic League pitcher to hit the 10-win mark this season joining York’s Nick Raquet (11-6) and Gastonia’s Zach Mort (10-2).