GASTONIA – The Rockers had four homers among 13 hits and slammed Gastonia 13-7 on Friday at CaroMont Health Park.
The victory combined with West Virginia’s 7-0 loss to Lexington put High Point in a tie for first place with Power in the second-half standings for the Atlantic League South Division at 24-16, 20 matches to play.
Stuart Levy hit a three-run homerun in the second with Stephen Cardullo and James McOwen on base. Michael Martinez (sixth) and Quincy Latiomore (seventh) pulled off solo shots. Jerry Downs hit a three-runner explosion as part of a four-run eighth that took him to 13-2.
Martinez also had a two-run single in the third. Michael Russell lifted a scoring sacrifice volley after the Martinez homer in the sixth and another in the eighth before the Downs explosion.
Russell, returning to where he fractured his jaw during a base flight attempt in July, was hit by a throw on his first trip to the spot. He stole the second and third, then scored on the fly of Downs’ sacrifice.
Tyler Gascow, who was signed a day earlier, earned his first pitcher victory as a Rocker. He allowed two runs, both on home runs, in five innings. The Honey Hunters scored their other five points against Ryan Chaffee in the eighth.