Tides' Offense Explodes For 12-8 Win In Season Opener
March 29, 2024 - International League (IL)
Norfolk Tides News Release
NORFOLK, Va --- The Norfolk Tides (1-0) defeated the Durham Bulls (0-1), 12-8, on Friday night at Harbor Park to kick off their 2024 season. In front of 10,265 fans, the defending Triple-A champions saw all nine hitters collect a base hit, while Chayce McDermott struck out six batters in 4.1 innings of one-run ball in his first start of the year.
MLB No. 1 overall prospect Jackson Holliday kicked off the season with a leadoff solo in the bottom of the first to get the Tides on the board. Then to kickstart a seven-run second inning, Holliday drove in Billy Cook on a sacrifice fly, bringing in his second of four RBI on the day. Norfolk went on to bat around that inning, with Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers each collecting RBI hits before Peyton Burdick socked a two-run homer to center field in his first at bat with the Tides. Shortstop Errol Robinson capped off the scoring avalanche with an RBI single his in first Norfolk at bat to drive in Cook to go up 8-0.
Holliday continued the onslaught in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run single that drove in Cook and Maverick Handley, giveing the Tides a 10-0 advantage. Meanwhile, McDermott was slicing through Durham hitters in his first start of the year. He finished 4.1 innings with six strikeouts, allowing just one run on a hit and five walks.
After the Bulls responded with seven runs in the top of the sixth, Norfolk returned fire in their half of the inning. Connor Norby notched his fourth hit of the evening, a two-run RBI double that gave the Tides a 12-8 lead. The score would stay there, as Luis González, Wandisson Charles and Bryan Baker closed out the final innings, with González notching his first win.
Norfolk returns to action Saturday evening for the second game of their three-game homestand against the Bulls, with LHP Bruce Zimmermann (0-0, -.--) slated to face off against RHP Nathan Wiles (0-0, -.--).
POSTGAME NOTES
Happy Hollidays: Jackson Holliday paced all hitters Friday night with four RBI, the seventh time in his three-year professional career the former No. 1 overall pick has plated four or more runners...he notched a home run in the top of the first and an RBI double as part of an 3-for-5 day at the plate...his home run off Mason Montgomery marked his first long ball off a left-handed pitcher in his career.
All Newcomers Welcome: Centerfielder Peyton Burdick launched a two-run home run in his first at bat as a member of the Tides. The first-pitch long ball traveled 430 feet, his longest since July 4, 2023 with Jacksonville against Charlotte.
Cookin' Connor: Connor Norby led all hitters in the Tides opening game, finishing with a 4-for-6 day at the plate. The Orioles No. 7 prospect was one of three Tides hitters to collect a double and a run Friday night.
Come One, Come All: Harbor Park welcomed 10,265 fans to see Norfolk take down Durham on Opening Day...that marks the largest Opening Day attendance for the Tides since 2018, when 11,131 faithful saw Norfolk take on Gwinnett.
International League Stories from March 29, 2024
- Chasers Walk off I-Cubs on Opening Night 2024 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Gonzales Goes Yard and Plassmeyer Punches out Six in Indians' Opening Day Loss - Indianapolis Indians
- Gonzalez Homers Twice as WooSox Fall in Opener in Walk-Off Fashion - Worcester Red Sox
- I-Cubs Drop Season Opener in Extras - Iowa Cubs
- Rodolfo Castro Socks Walk-Off Homer as 'Pigs Stun WooSox on Opening Night - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bisons Fall in High-Scoring Opening Day Affair, 12-9, to RailRiders - Buffalo Bisons
- Stripers Fall Late on Opening Night in Jacksonville (3.29.24) - Gwinnett Stripers
- Tides Top Bulls 12-8 - Durham Bulls
- Jacksonville Wins on Opening Day in Front of Sellout Crowd - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Bats Rally for Thrilling Opening Night Victory - Louisville Bats
- Pirates Reliever Colin Holderman to Begin Rehab Assignment with Indy - Indianapolis Indians
- Tides' Offense Explodes For 12-8 Win In Season Opener - Norfolk Tides
- Bats Rally for Thrilling Opening Night Win - Louisville Bats
- Redbirds' Bats Explode in Sixth En Route to Opening Day Win - Memphis Redbirds
- Knights Drop Season Opener to Redbirds, 6-5 - Charlotte Knights
- Mud Hens Start Season With Win In Front Of Sold-Out Crowd - Toledo Mud Hens
- Gilbert, Acuña Homer as Syracuse Wins on Opening Day, 6-3, Over Rochester - Syracuse Mets
- Saints Push Saturday's Opening Day Start Time Back to 5:07 p.m. - St. Paul Saints
- Sounds Come up Short on Opening Day in Toledo - Nashville Sounds
- RailRiders Down Bisons 12-9 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Red Wings Fall to Mets in Opening Day Matineé, 6-3 - Rochester Red Wings
- Pirates Reliever Colin Holderman to Begin Rehab Assignment with Indy - Indianapolis Indians
- Saints Opening Day Roster Has Eight of Baseball America's Top 30 Minnesota Twins Prospects - St. Paul Saints
- Jumbo Shrimp Unveil 2024 Opening Day Roster - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Indians Announce Partnership with AAA Insurance, Perks for AAA Hoosier Motor Club Members - Indianapolis Indians
- Guardians & Clippers Announce Opening Day Triple-A Roster - Columbus Clippers
- Iowa Cubs Announce 2024 Opening Day Roster - Iowa Cubs
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - March 29 at Syracuse - Rochester Red Wings
- Durham Bulls Announce 2024 Opening Day Roster - Durham Bulls
- SWB Game Notes - March 29 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Yankees set Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Opening Day roster - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- 2024 Opening Day Roster Revealed, Knights Open Season Tonight in Memphis - Charlotte Knights
- Bundle up over Easter Weekend as Saints Kick off 2024 Season with Two-Game Series March 30-31 - St. Paul Saints
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.
