Rockers Fall at Gastonia, 6-4

GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers dropped a 6-4 decision to Gastonia on Saturday night at CaroMont Health Park. The loss marked the eighth straight defeat for the Rockers.

High Point (28-17) now trails Gastonia (31-14) by three games in the South Division of the Atlantic League.

High Point took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Giovanny Alfonzo singled, moved to second on a walk to Ben Aklinski and scored on Jerry Downs’ single to center.  Luis Roman’s solo homer in the fourth knotted the game at 1-1.

The Rockers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth when Zander Wiel led off with a homer, his first since coming off the injured list earlier in the week.

High Point starter Neil Uskali went six innings and held Gastonia to just three hits while walking two and striking out five. He turned it over to the bullpen with a 2-1 lead.

Gastonia took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Jonathon Crawford loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a hit batter. Adam Choplick (L, 3-3) relieved Crawford and Herlis Rodriguez greeted him with a two-run double to put Gastonia ahead 3-2.

High Point went back on top with two runs in the top of the eighth. Johnny Field hit a solo homer to tie the game and Logan Morrison followed with a double. Giovanny Alfonzo’s single plated Morrison and the Rockers had a 4-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the eighth with Gastonia trailing 4-3, Jake Skole tied the game with a home run. Choplick then walked Reece Hampton before giving way to Chasen Bradford. He walked Stuart Levy and then yielded an RBI single to Jack Reinheimer. Levy would eventually score on an RBI single by Joseph Rosa.

High Point and Gastonia will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 4:15 p.m. at CaroMont Health Park. The Rockers will send Colt Webb (1-1, 7.71) to the mound to face the Honey Hunters’ Reilly Hovis (2-2, 5.75)