Napleton sets Rockers record for homers in a season

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Jackson Feltner and Damiano Palmegiani each hit a pair of home runs to lead the Lexington Legends to an 11-6 win over the High Point Rockers Thursday night at Truist Point. The Rockers added a pair of home runs as well with catcher Luke Napleton clubbing his 33^rd homer of the year to set the Rockers’ franchise record for home runs in a season.

The win was the 10^th straight for the Legends who have opened a four-game lead over Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League’s South Division. The Legends are 31-17 and 57-54 on the season. The Rockers are now 19-29 and 48-63.

Napleton’s homer, with one on in the ninth inning, was his 33^rd of the year, surpassing Ben Aklinski (2025) and Zander Wiel (2022) who each had 32 homers in a season. Napleton leads the ALPB in homers and now has 95 RBI on the year.

The Rockers took a 1-0 lead in the first when Lexington starter Nic Laio (W, 9-7) hit Ivan Melendez and Colin Davis with consecutive pitches. Hogan Windish followed with an RBI single to plate the Rockers’ first run.

The Legends greeted High Point starter Yuhi Sako (L, 7-11) with five consecutive base hits to open the second inning. Palmegiani hit a solo homer, Feltner had an RBI single as did Weston Eberly as Lexington took a 3-1 lead.

The Legends added three more runs in the fourth coming off a Feltner solo homer, an RBI single from Eberly and a sac fly by Xane Washington.

The Rockers tallied twice in the sixth to pull within 6-3. Melendez led off the inning with his 19^th homer of the season. Colin Davis then doubled and scored when Mikey Kane’s infield single was thrown too high to first and Davis was able to score on the error.

Lexington tallied four runs in the seventh to take a 10-3 lead. Feltner clubbed his second homer of the night with two outs in the seventh and former Rocker Patrick Sanchez added a two-run homer. Palmegiani’s second blast came in the eighth inning.

Napleton homered with one out in the ninth with Ryan McCarthy aboard to account for the 11-6 final.

Sako allowed eight hits and six runs in his four innings of work. Laio went six innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while walking two and striking out one.

Friday’s game four of the six-game series starts at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. High Point will start RHP Matt Colucci (4-5, 5.88) while the Legends will counter with RHP Jimmy Loper (9-8, 6.08). Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.