HIGH POINT, NC – Ben Aklinski's bottom-of-the-ninth inning two-out two-run home run propelled the Rockers to a 4-3 win Sunday at Truist Point, earning High Point their third straight one-run walk-off victory against Staten Island. High Point's sweep of Staten Island pushes the FerryHawks losing skid to eight games, despite six of the losses coming by just one run.
For the second consecutive game, Staten Island brought a lead into the final frame, looking to lockdown the franchise's first-ever road win. Ahead 3-2, FerryHawks reliever
Chris Nunn remained on the bump for the ninth after issuing a scoreless eighth inning. After giving up a leadoff walk to Chris Proctor, Nunn whiffed Gio Alfonso and Jay Gonzalez. Edgardo Alfonso elected to replace Nunn with
Victor Capellan to try and get the game's final out with Ben Aklinski due up. Aklinski, who provided a game-winning single on Friday night, blasted Capellan's 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence, sending the Rockers to a 4-3 win.
The FerryHawks drew first blood in Sunday's series finale, scratching across a run in the second inning.
Kacy Clemens began the frame with his first of three hits on the afternoon, a double down the right-field line. After a Yunior Santana groundout pushed him to third,
Ben Ruta's centerfield fly out pushed Clemens home for a 1-0 lead.
The Rockers answered right back in the home half of the second, dueling FerryHawks right-hander
Jordan Simpson. The first two batters did the damage to tie the game at 1-1, with Zander Wiel garnering a leadoff walk then scoring on Jerry Downs double.
High Point plated another run in the third against Simpson, utilizing an Alfonso walk and an Aklinski double to grab their first lead, 2-1.
Simpson tossed five innings in his fifth Atlantic League start, allowing two earned runs on six hits. He struck out one and walked three.
Rockers starter Craig Stem worked through the seventh inning, but not before coughing up High Point's lead. A Clemens single and Ruta double put two in scoring position for
Mariel Bautista with the FerryHawks still training 2-1. Bautista ripped one down the left field line for a two-run single, giving the lead back to Staten Island with his first two RBI of the season.
Anthony Auletta,
Connor Law, and
Chris Nunn combined to throw 3.2 hitless innings before giving way to Capellan (1-2). The trio struck out five batters and walked three.
Adam Choplick (3-1) collected his second win of the series, pitching a scoreless ninth inning on Friday and Sunday.
Staten Island (5-21) returns home Tuesday for the first of three against the York Revolution. RHP
Matt Solter gets the ball for the FerryHawks against a Revolution pitcher to be named. First pitch at Staten Island University Hopsital Community Park is schedule for 6:35 PM with the FerryHawks Pregame Show beginning at 6:20 PM on the SI FerryHawks YouTube.
Postgame Notes: FerryHawks have played nine one-run games (2-7)...
Kacy Clemens (3-for-4) recorded his first three-hit game of the season...the only hit allowed by the FerryHawks bullpen was the game-winning home run
FerryHawks Motto:The Staten Island FerryHawks are a Major League Baseball partnered franchise that will play in the high-quality Atlantic League in the Spring of 2022. Our mission is to create a home for everyone in the Staten Island community and solidify a fun and exciting family experience that fans will never forget. The FerryHawks will play their home games at the newly improved baseball stadium next to the Staten Island Ferry along Richmond Terrace in Downtown Staten Island. We are excited to have you and become part of our FerryHawk Family. Please visit
https://ferryhawks.com. #RallyBackStatenIsland
About The Atlantic League:The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the Major Leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. The ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 44 million fans during its 23-year history. Please visit
www.AtlanticLeague.com.
