IL1 Norfolk Tides

Valera's Effort not Enough for Tides

Published on August 9, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release


Breyvic Valera had three hits and an RBI to pace Norfolk's 11-hit attack, but the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders broke open a tie game with four late runs in a 6-2 win over the Tides Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park.

Valera, acquired as part of a July trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Manny Machado, singled twice and doubled in the contest as Norfolk dropped the rubber match of the three-game set. Valera has now hit safely in four consecutive games, and he's hit .262 with nine RBI in 16 games with the Tides this season.

Valera and Armando Araiza had RBI singles in the seventh inning to knot the score at 2-2, but the RailRiders scored four runs in the eighth inning to reclaim the lead. L.J. Mazzilli - son of former Tide Lee Mazzilli - gave Scranton the lead with a one-out RBI double off of Michael Kelly (0-1). It was the third double of the contest for Mazzilli, who later came around to score on a two-out, two-run single by Mark Payton.

Norfolk starter John Means did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings of work. Means, who entered the day ranked third among Orioles minor leaguers with 113 strikeouts this season, struck out just one batter and issued one walk while throwing 65 of his 103 pitches for strikes. The only runs he surrendered came in the fifth frame, when Ryan McBroom - his former teammate at West Virginia University - grounded a two-run single into left field. Means has now allowed three earned runs or less in 15 consecutive starts.

Pedro Álvarez and Luis Sardiñas each had two hits apiece in the setback. Norfolk went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.

With the loss, Norfolk (60-54) and Scranton (60-54) are now tied for the IL Wild Card lead. The two clubs will meet again next week in a four-game set in Moosic, PA.

The Tides will continue their homestand on Friday as they welcome in the Columbus Clippers to Harbor Park for a three-game set. Luis Ortiz (0-0, 5.40) will be making his Harbor Park debut and is set to be opposed by right-hander Mitch Talbot (3-4, 3.01).

On Friday, the first 5,000 fans will receive a Tides baseball cap courtesy of Pepsi and The Hampton Roads Show. Friday is also Coast Guard Night at Harbor Park, where active duty and retired United States Coast Guard personnel as well as dependents can show their ID at the Harbor Park box office to get box seat tickets for $9.50 and reserved seat tickets for $8.50.

Notes: Prior to Thursday's game, outfielder Jaycob Brugman was transferred to Norfolk's roster from Double-A Bowie, while RHP Eddie Gamboa was placed on the disabled list with a right elbow injury...D.J Snelten struck out two in 1.1 innings of relief in his first outing since coming off of the disabled list...Luis Sardiñas has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games...Andrew Faulkner had allowed just four inherited runners to score all season before allowing three inherited runners to score Thursday.

Check out the Norfolk Tides Statistics

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International League Stories from August 9, 2018


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