Rockers Thump Genomes, 12-3

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The High Point Rockers scored early and scored often in taking a 12-3 win from the Kentucky Genomes at Wild Health Field on Friday night. The victory gives the Rockers a 5.5 game lead over Kentucky in the Atlantic League Wild Card race.

High Point starter Mitch Atkins (W, 2-0) won his second straight start, tossing five innings of four-hit baseball, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Offensively, the Rockers were led by Logan Morrison and Zander Wiel who each had four hits, Quincy Latimore who had a homer and a game-high four RBI, and Jerry Downs who blasted a three-run homer.

The Rockers started the game with bang, scoring four times in the top of the first off Kentucky starter and former Rocker Max Povse (L, 5-10). The first five hitters that High Point sent to the plate slapped base hits: Michael Russell led off the game with a single and was followed by Michael Martinez who also singled. Downs then blasted a three-run homer, his 22nd of the year. After a double by Morrison and a single by Wiel, Latimore added a sac fly to round out the inning.

Latimore would add a three-run homer in the third, his 19th of the year, and Morrison added a solo shot in the ninth to bring his season total to 14.

Gabriel Castellanos, Cam Cotter and Bryce Hensley each threw scoreless innings in relief while Junior Rincon yielded a meaningless two runs during his one inning of work.

The Rockers improved to 68-56 overall on the season and reached the .500 mark at 29-29 in the second half of the Atlantic League season.

The Rockers and Genomes play the second game of the three-game series on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Wild Health Field.