Rockers walk-off Freddies behind Grotjohn blast

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Shortstop Ryan Grotjohn hit a solo homer leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to give the High Point Rockers a thrilling 3-2 win over Frederick on Sunday afternoon at Truist Point. It was Grotjohn’s first homer as a Rocker and gave High Point its first walk-off win of the season.

“I knew (Frederick pitcher Jack Weinberger) was a sinker ball pitcher, so I was looking for something down,” said Grotjohn who deposited the sinker over the wall in center field. It was his first walk-off homer since playing for Kane County, Arizona’s Class A team in Geneva, Ill. in 2018.

Grotjohn’s blast gave Jameson McGrane the win after he had set Frederick down in order in the top of the ninth.

Frederick had taken a 2-0 lead in the fifth when Leobaldo Cabrera doubled off Rockers starter Neil Ramirez and scored on a sac fly off the bat of Scott Kelly. Frederick’s Johnni Turbo singled and scored on a double by Gavin John.

The Rockers evened the game in the bottom of the fifth. Grotjohn drew a leadoff walk as did Daikan Yoh. After Michael Russell was walked to load the bases, Beau Taylor doubled to right to score Grotjohn and Yoh and tie the game at 2-2.

Neither team scored until the ninth as lefty Bryce Hensley threw two shutout innings out of the Rockers bullpen and was followed by Cam Cotter who put the Freddies down in order in the eighth. McGrane started the ninth and struck out the first two hitters he faced and put Frederick down one-two-three.

The Rockers are now 8-1 and continue enjoy their greatest start in franchise history while Frederick fell to 0-8. The Rockers hold a one-game lead over 7-2 Lexington and a two-game advantage over 6-3 Gastonia.

High Point and Frederick finish their four-game series on Monday with a special 11:05 a.m. first pitch for Education Day at Truist Point. Tickets for this game are only available through the Rockers Box Office.