Another Day, Another Walk-Off

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the ninth inning, scoring three times in the final frame to post a 5-4 win over Staten Island in front of 2,701 fans at Truist Point.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, High Point’s Michael Martinez bounced a one-hopper to FerryHawks first baseman Kacy Clemens. His throw to the plate sailed over the head of catcher John Nester, allowing Jay Gonzalez to score the tying run and Ben Aklinski to slide home with the winning run.

The Rockers entered their final at-bat trailing 4-1. Giovanny Alfonzo singled to start the frame before Jay Gonzales followed with a single. Aklinski’s double into the leftfield corner plated Alfonzo to make it a 4-2 game. Zander Wiel walked before Martinez’s grounder led the winning runs scoring.

High Point reliever Ryan Dull (1-0) took the win with 1.1 innings of hitless relief. He fanned three of the four batters he faced. FerryHawks reliever Victor Capellan (1-1) took the loss.

The FerryHawks broke the ice in the first inningwhen Clemens homered to right-center to give Staten Island a 1-0 lead. A solo homer from Brandon Wagner leading off the fourth inning put Staten Island ahead 2-0. Later in the fourth, Rymer Liriano walked and would come around to score on an RBI single from Joseph Monge.

High Point scored its first two runs in the seventh inning when Alfonzo singled and Gonzalez drew a walk. Aklinski bounced into a fielder’s choice leaving runners at first and third. A walk to Wiel loaded the bases when Quincy Latimore doubled home a pair of runs with Wiel being thrown out at the plate for the third out.

The Rockers and FerryHawks will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at Truist Point.