IL1 Norfolk Tides

Tides and Charlotte Split Doubleheader

Published on July 10, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release


Norfolk rallied from an early deficit to walk off with a 5-4 extra-inning win over Charlotte in game one of a doubleheader Friday night at Harbor Park. The Tides dropped game two, 6-5.

In the opener, Dariel Alvarez hit a one-out, bases loaded single in the last of the ninth, giving Norfolk a 4-3 walk-off win.

The Tides trailed the contest 3-1 entering the sixth inning but plated single runs in the sixth and seventh frames to force extra innings. Alvarez pulled the Tides within 3-2 in the sixth with an RBI single before Rey Navarro sent the game to extras with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

The Tides pushed across the winning run in the ninth, as Paul Janish led off the frame with a single before moving to second on a groundout by Henry Urrutia. After a single by Navarro moved pinch-runner Derrik Gibson to third, Blake Smith (0-2) uncorked a wild pitch before intentionally walking Christian Walker to load the bases. Alvarez then lined a 1-0 pitch deep into right-center field, scoring Gibson and giving Norfolk its eighth walk-off win of the season.

Chris Jones turned in another strong outing, as he allowed three runs on eight hits while matching his career-high with 7.0 innings pitched. He struck out three without walking a batter and needed just 81 pitches - including 60 strikes - to navigate his outing.

Steve Johnson (3-1) earned the victory with a shutout inning of relief.

In the nightcap, the Knights jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage and held off another Tides rally to knock off Norfolk 6-5.

Charlotte plated three runs off of Eddie Gamboa (7-6) in the first inning, then chased the knuckleballer before he could retire a batter in the second. The Knights then added a run in the third frame on an RBI single by Jason Coats to take a 5-0 lead.

Norfolk made a game of it in the third frame, as the Tides sent 10 men to the plate and scored four runs - all with two out. Alvarez singled home Urrutia to put the Tides on the board, and Michael Almanzar later followed with a three-run homer to pull the Tides within 5-4.

The Knights extended their lead to 6-4 on a solo homer by former Tide Chris Marerro in the fourth frame, but the Tides mounted one last rally in the seventh. Julio Borbon worked a one-out walk, then took second on defensive indifference. One out later, Urrutia laced a ball down the right field line to score Borbon, but Urrutia was thrown out trying to advance to second, ending the contest.

Alvarez finished the twinbill 6-for-9 with three RBI, as Norfolk (50-37) maintained its 1.5 game lead over Charlotte (50-40) with the doubleheader split.

The two clubs continue their series Saturday night at Harbor Park, with first pitch slated for 7:05. T.J. McFarland (2-2, 3.12) gets the start for Norfolk against right-hander Kyle Drabek (4-5, 2.64).

On Saturday, the Tides join forces with the Susan G. Komen foundation in the fight against breast cancer, as the first 2,000 ladies 18 and over will receive a pink clutch courtesy of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Norfolk will wear special pink uniforms in the contest and there will be a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

Notes: The doubleheader was the result of a rainout at Harbor Park on April 25...Norfolk improved to 8-5 in extra innings with its game one win...Henry Urrutia hit safely in both ends of the twinbill and has now hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games...Steve Clevenger went 1-for-4 with a run in game one to extend his hitting streak to five games...The start of game two was delayed seven minutes due to rain.

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International League Stories from July 10, 2015


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