Norfolk gets past Toledo
June 16, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release
Nate McLouth raced home on a fielder's choice grounder in the bottom of the 10th, helping Norfolk edge the Toledo Mud Hens 6-5 in front of a season-high crowd of 10,345 at Harbor Park Saturday night.
With the score tied at 5-5, McLouth ignited the deciding rally by working a leadoff walk off of Jose Ortega (3-5). McLouth followed by stealing second base, and he moved to third on a wild pitch during a walk to Jamie Hoffmann. After Miguel Tejada was intentionally walked to load the bases, Darin Downs was summoned from the bullpen to face Joe Mahoney, who hit a slow chopper to the left of second baseman Justin Henry. Henry's throw home could not beat the hustling McLouth, allowing the Tides to walk off with the 6-5 win.
The win was Norfolk's sixth walk-off win of 2012 and made a winner of Miguel Socolovich (2-0), who did not allow a baserunner over 2.1 shutout innings of relief. Socolovich has now posted a 0.72 ERA (1-ER, 12.1-IP) while striking out 15 and walking one over his last five outings.
Socolovich, Steve Johnson and J.C. Romero combined to strike out six while allowing two hits in 5.0 shutout innings of relief.
L.J. Hoes led Norfolk's offense, as he finished 3-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored. He also belted his first Triple-A home run in the contest, an opposite-field solo shot in the seventh inning that tied the score at 5-5.
Xavier Avery reached base four times in the game, as he singled twice, walked twice, scored two runs and stole a base. He also made a leaping grab at the center field wall in the eighth inning to deny Ryan Strieby of an extra-base hit.
Tides starter Zach Britton did not factor in the decision after allowing five runs in five-plus innings. Britton surrendered three runs on four hits in the second inning alone, but settled down to retire nine of ten batters from the third through fifth innings. He left on a sour note, however, as he yielded a homer to Strieby and a double to Ben Guez to open up the sixth before being removed in favor of Johnson.
The two clubs will wrap up their four-game set on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 1:15. Chris Tillman (5-8, 4.23) will take the hill for Norfolk.
International League Stories from June 16, 2012
- Knights Walk Off with 5-4 Extra-Inning Win over Tribe - Indianapolis Indians
- Knights Walk off with Exciting 5-4 Win in 11 Innings on Saturday - Charlotte Knights
- Norfolk gets past Toledo - Norfolk Tides
- Canzler, Clippers Cruise Past G-Braves - Gwinnett Stripers
- Russell Branyan's 10th Inning Homer Gives Yankees 4-2 Win - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
- PawSox Continue to Soar - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Walk-Off Home Run Dooms Chiefs in Extras - Syracuse Mets
- Bisons Notes - Pawtucket at Buffalo (7:05 P.M.) - Buffalo Bisons
- IronPigs Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Saturday, June 16 at Louisville (Reds) - Rochester Red Wings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
