Rockers rally falls short at CWV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The High Point Rockers fell behind early, rallied to tie the game but eventually dropped a 4-3 decision in the series opener at Charleston on Friday night.

The Charleston win keeps the Dirty Birds (33-15) five games ahead of the Rockers (28-20) in the Atlantic League’s South Division. The two clubs will play three more times this weekend with a single game on Saturday at 6:35 and a doubleheader on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at GoMart Park.

The Rockers were held hitless for the first six and one-third innings by Charleston starter Stevie Ledesma. The 28-year-old righty allowed a walk to Evan Edwards in the second but put the Rockers down in order in each of the other innings.

Meanwhile, the Dirty Birds were building a 3-0 lead against Rockers starter Jeremy Rhoades. Juan Santana drew a walk in the third, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Phillip Ervin. Charleston extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Jared Carr singled and scored on a homer by Rusber Estrada.

After D.J. Burt flew out to start the seventh, Ledesma walked Ryan Grotjohn and gave up the Rockers’ first hit, an RBI double to Connor Owings. Owings then moved to third on a passed ball by Estrada. Ben Aklinski’s grounder to short allowed Owings to score to pull the Rockers to within a run at 3-2. Evan Edwards then tripled to center and Ledesma yielded to reliever Cristofer Ogando (W, 7-0). Another passed ball by Estrada allowed Edwards to score and tie the game.

Austin Warner (L, 1-2) relieved Rhoades in the eighth after the starter allowed eight hits over his seven innings of work. After a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, Warner allowed back-to-back doubles by Tillman Pugh and Jared Carr to put Charleston in front 4-3. Zach Vennaro was summoned from the bullpen and retired Estrada on a fly ball to right.

Charleston went with righty Pedro Garcia in the top of the ninth. He struck out Aklinski and retired Edwards on an infield bouncer back to the mound. Martine Figueroa then hit a 1-2 pitch through the right side for a single and Parreira did the same, moving Figueroa to third. Michael Martinez then hit a drive to deep right field which Pugh was able to track down just in front of the wall to lock up the Charleston win.

NOTES: The Rockers re-signed RHP Jameson McGrane on Friday. He had played the first half of the season in High Point then spent seven weeks pitching in Mexico. He leads the club with 10 saves… The Rockers also traded RHP D.J. Johnson to the York Revolution… High Point released OF Trey Martin and signed catcher Frank Nigro. Nigro, most recently with the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League, was with the Rockers during their inaugural season in 2019.