RECAP: Charleston Dirty Birds 7, High Point Rockers 3

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers had their five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night by Charleston which posted a 7-3 win over the Rockers. A crowd of 2,402 turned out for the contest.

The Dirty Birds had 11 hits and three home runs in the contest while the Rockers recorded nine hits and a pair of home runs, both from Quincy Latimore.

Charleston touched High Point starter Neil Uskali for a pair of runs in the first. Lead-off hitter Anfernee Seymour tripled to lead off the game and scored on a two-run homer by Nick Longhi. The Dirty Birds added a run in the second when Connor Justus singled off the glove of Usakli and moved to third when the throw sailed past first baseman Jerry Downs. Justus scored on an infield groundout by Yovan Gonzalez.

In the fourth, Charleston took a 5-0 lead when Scott Kelly drove in a pair of runs with a single. Miles Williams’ solo homer leading off the fifth gave Charleston a 6-0 advantage.

High Point scored its first run in the sixth when Quincy Latimore hit a solo homer, his third of the year. The Rockers cut the lead to 6-2 in the seventh when Mike Gulino tripled and scored on a sac fly by Michael Russell. Charleston added an insurance run with Juan Perez’s solo homer to lead off the ninth.  High Point made it a 7-3 final when Latimore blasted his second homer of the game to start the ninth inning.

Usakli took the loss as his record fell to 1-1.  Jose Mesa, Jr. (2-0) threw six innings in the start for Charleston, scattering six hits and walking just one while holding the Rockers to a single run. A trio of relievers finished the game for Charleston.

The Rockers and Charleston will conclude their three-game series with the rubber match on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at Truist Point.