York takes opener by 9-2

YORK, Pa. – The High Point Rockers took an early 1-0 lead before the York Revolution scored nine unanswered runs to take a 9-2 win on Tuesday night in the opening game of a three-game series at WellSpan Park.

The Rockers, the South Division first half champions and York, the North Division first half champion, have already secured a berth in the postseason playoffs. The York victory leaves the two clubs tied for the best overall record in the Atlantic League at 44-26. High Point is now 3-4 in the second half while York improved to 5-2.

York starter Chris Vallimont (W, 3-1) pitched six innings, holding the Rockers to six hits while striking out 13 without a walk. It marked the most strikeouts by an Atlantic League pitcher this season.

High Point grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when outfielder Luis Gonzalez led off the game with a solo homer, his 14^th of the season.

York countered in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs as Jalen Miller doubled off Rockers starter Jonah Scolaro (L, 3-3) and then scored on a wild throw as he was stealing third base. Frankie Tostado singled and moved to second on a single by William Simoneit before scoring on a single off the bat of Shayne Fontana to give the Revs a 2-1 lead.

York’s Marty Costes led off the bottom of the third with a solo homer to push York’s advantage to 3-1. Jeffrey Wehler and Ryan Higgins each added a solo shot in the fourth for a 5-1 Revs advantage. York then added four runs in the fifth including a stretch of three straight doubles to chase Scolaro and build a 9-1 lead.

Alex Dickerson hit a solo homer with one out in the sixth to pull High Point within 9-2 but the Rockers could get no closer.

Gonzalez finished with three hits for the Rockers while York had 15 hits on the night. Fontana had a pair of hits and a team-high three RBI.

Game two of the series is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start on Wednesday and will be carried live on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the Mixlr app.

NOTES: The Rockers signed and activated a pair of MLB veteran pitchers in righties Gabe Klobosits and David Hess. Hess pitched with the Orioles and is a two-time cancer survivor. Klobosits reached the Majors with Washington and spent the last two years with Gastonia . . . The Rockers traded LHP Mike Esposito to the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League in return for a player to be named later.