If Grayson Rodriguez pitches like he did on a cool Saturday night, his return to Norfolk might not last too long.In his first start since Baltimore sent him down,
Rodriguez pitched six shutout innings and gave up just one hit as the Tides defeated Gwinnett 9-2 before 10,448, one of the largest Harbor Park crowds in recent memory.
Rodriguez, 23, struck out six. Perhaps the only statistical negative was his walk total — five — on 94 pitches.
The International League-leading Tides (39-17), who rocked Stripers starter Nolan Kingham (0-4) for four runs in the second inning, gained offensive production from numerous sources.
Connor Norby drove in three runs, homered and singled, and Colton Cowser was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. New catcher José Godoy was 3 for 5 and scored twice, Lewin Diaz hit a home run and Joseph Rosa had two hits.
Godoy, who grew up in Venezuela, arrived Friday in a trade with one of Baltimore’s chief rivals, the New York Yankees. He’ll help because Anthony Bemboom and Maverick Handley, who have seen plenty of action with the Tides, are on the injured list.
Tides reliever Joey Krehbiel was three outs from completing a shutout, but Nick Solak spoiled it with a two-run homer in the ninth for Gwinnett (24-32). Krehbiel nevertheless completed a three-inning stint for his third save of the year.
Rodriguez, 2-2 with a 7.35 earned-run average in 10 starts for the Orioles, was making his second Norfolk start of the year and looking to establish fastball command. The 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft improved to 26-9 all-time in the minors.
The Stripers and Tides will complete the seven-game series with a regionally televised 1 p.m. game Sunday. Norfolk won four of the first six.
The Tides are expected to send Spenser Watkins (2-1, 7.11 ERA) to the mound against Beau Burrows (2-1, 5.50) in a clash of right-handers.
