Kentucky Hands Rockers 8-2 Setback

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The High Point Rockers dropped their sixth straight game on Thursday, falling 8-2 to the Kentucky Genomes at Wild Health Field in Lexington. High Point was held to five hits by three Genomes pitchers with shortstop Giovanny Alfonzo collecting two of them.

The Rockers are now 28-15 on the year and fell out of first place for the first time since May 21. They will visit first place Gastonia starting Friday for a three-game series. The Honey Hunters are 29-14 after a 3-2 win on Thursday at Charleston.

The Rockers scored a single run in the first when Jay Gonzalez led off the game with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Logan Morrison.

High Point starter Austin Glorius (2-4) set the Genomes down in order in each of the first two innings but ran into trouble and allowed four runs in the third. Jimmy Paredes hit the big blow, a three-run homer.

The Rockers made it a 4-2 game in the fourth when Quincy Latimore drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a ground out by Jerry Downs, and scored on a single by Michael Martinez.

Kentucky completed the evening’s scoring with another four-run inning in the fifth. The first three Genome hitters all singled to plate one run. Paredes then doubled in a run and Moises Sierra singled home another run.

Paredes finished the night with two hits, two runs scored and four RBI. Dustin Beggs (3-3) pitched seven innings for Kentucky and walked four and struck out four while yielding five hits. Kentucky’s bullpen threw hitless innings in the eighth and ninth innings.

High Point will start a three-game series with fellow Atlantic League South Division foe Gastonia on Friday at 6:15 at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia.

NOTES: Pitcher Joe Johnson and infielder Zander Wiel both played after spending time on the injured list. Johnson pitched two-third of an inning and did not allow a baserunner. Wiel started in rightfield and had a walk and a strikeout.