Rockers slam Freddies, 12-4

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Ben Aklinski tied club records with four extra base hits and 13 total bases as the High Point Rockers took a 12-4 decision from the Frederick Baseball Club on Friday night in front of 2,014 fans at Truist Point.

While Aklinski shined at the plate, Rockers lefty Ben Braymer was outstanding on the mound, shutting out Frederick for six innings. Braymer has now pitched 12 innings for the Rockers this seaso and allowed just four hits and no runs while walking just one and fanning 11.

“It was another great performance by Ben Braymer,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “Benny was outstanding. We probably could have pushed him a little further but there’s no sense in doing that. He threw 64 pitches the other day, 74 pitches tonight.”

The Rockers pounded out 15 hits, led by Aklinski’s five including two home runs, a pair of doubles and a single. On the night, High Point slammed five home runs including solo shots by John Nogowski and Zander Wiel who went back-to-back in the first inning, and D.J. Burt who hit a two-run homer in the second. Aklinski accounted for four RBI with his two-run homer in the fifth and a solo homer in the eighth.

“The bats are going well. The guys are just having good at-bats, that’s all it is,” said Keefe.  “There were a lot of bright spots. These guys are out to win.”

“I’ve been working with George (Greer), our hitting coach,” said Aklinski. “He’s helped with a few mechanical things. I felt really good at the plate tonight.”

The Rockers scored in seven out of eight at-bats on Friday, taking a 6-0 lead after three and then adding six more runs after going down in order in the fourth.

Braymer (2-0) struck out nine Frederick players and did not allow a walk while yielding just four hits over his six innings of work. Wiel, Daikan Yoh and Burt each finished with a pair of hits as the Rockers moved to 6-1 on the season by winning their fourth straight game. The Rockers are tied for first in the Atlantic League’s South Division with Gastonia with identical 6-1 records.

High Point and Frederick will meet again on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point in game two of the four-game series.