Genomes Come From Behind to Nip Rockers

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The High Point Rockers fell to the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes 8-7 on Wednesday afternoon at Wild Health Field.

The Rockers built an early 6-0 lead but the Genomes bounced back with eight unanswered runs to take a 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

The Rockers are now 43-42 overall and 4-15 in the second half of the ALPB season.

With one out in the first, High Point’s Ben Aklinski drew a walk from Kentucky starter Dustin Beggs (W, 8-4) and moved to third on a single by Jerry Downs. Zander Wiel grounded out with Aklinski coming across to score the first run of the game. Logan Morrison followed with a single to center to score Jerry Downs.

In the third, Aklinski singled with one out and scored from first on a double by Downs. Morrison again singled to center to plate Downs to give the Rockers a 4-0 lead.

Michael Russell hit a solo homer in the fourth to put the Rockers ahead 5-0. Aklinski followed with a walk, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Wiel for a 6-0 advantage.

The Genomes began their comeback with four runs in the fourth, coming on an RBI groundout by Samir Duenez, an RBI double from Anderson Miller, an RBI single from Gavin Johns and a throwing error by Rockers’ catcher Dakota Mulcay.  The Genomes took a 7-6 lead in the fifth on a Duenez three-run homer that chased Rockers starter Liam O’Sullivan (L, 0-3). O’Sullivan went 4.2 innings and allowed six hits and tghree walks while yielding seven runs and striking out five.

Chris Shaw’s RBI single in the sixth scored Clayton Mehlbauer to put the Genomes up 8-6.

The Rockers made it an 8-7 game with a single run in the eighth on a solo homer by J.R. DiSarcina who rejoined the Rockers on Tuesday of this week. Kentucky’s Robbie Ross, Jr. pitched a scorless ninth to earn his first save of the year.

High Point and Kentucky will play the final game of the three-game series on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Wild Health Field.