Ryan McKenna belted a grand slam in the fifth inning of doubleheader Game 2, sparking the Norfolk Tides to a 6-3 victory over Gwinnett and a split of Saturday night’s two games against the Stripers before 5,216 at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
GRAND SALAMI TIME! Ryan McKenna clears the bases with one swing and the Tides are back out in front!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/rW4lkh7gkI
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 23, 2023
The Stripers won 2-1 in Game 1 on Luke Williams’ walk-off, tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning.
The International League first-half champion Tides are 60-33, 12-7 in the second half. Gwinnett is 41-53, 8-11.
In Game 2, winner Chayce McDermott (1-0) had an intriguing, effective outing. The 24-year-old right-hander from Ball State struck out nine and gave up just one hit in five innings of his second Triple-A appearance and first victory, though he walked six. Ryan Watson pitched the last two innings, giving up two hits — including Hoy Park’s solo homer — but striking out three.
McDermott was promoted July 14 from Double-A Bowie. He came to the Baltimore organization in the deadline deal last season that sent Trey Mancini to Houston.
Norfolk went ahead 2-0 in the second inning on home runs by Joey Ortiz and Kyle Stowers off Nolan Kingham. Gwinnett pulled even at 2 in the fourth when Hoy Park singled home Jesus Aguilar and Joe Dunand, who both had walked.
In the decisive fifth, Stowers led off by lacing a double to right. One out later, Lewin Diaz and Robbie Glendinning walked, loading the bases. McKenna then launched a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left field for a 6-2 lead.
The Tides lost Game 1 on a home run by a man known more for speed than power. Luke Williams hit his third homer of the Triple-A season to end the contest.
Williams’ drive off Joey Krehbiel barely cleared the yellow line on the fence in left field.
In a pitching duel between left-handed starters Nick Margevicius of Gwinnett and Bruce Zimmermann, the Tides went ahead in the second inning. Cesar Prieto bunted for a one-out single and went to third when Stowers doubled on a ball Williams appeared to lose in the sun in left field. Daz Cameron then hit a sacrifice fly to center.
The Tides score first on a @daz_cameron16 sac fly!
M2 | Norfolk 1, Gwinnett 0#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/zvlymlA5dw
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 22, 2023
The Stripers pulled even in the third. Yolmer Sanchez led off with a double and scored when Tides second baseman Ortiz committed a throwing error on Magneuris Sierra’s grounder.
Both starters lasted five innings, and Zimmermann struck out six, walked three and gave up three hits.
In the seventh, Stripers reliever Jackson Stephens — just activated off the injured list after posting a 3.69 ERA in 39 appearances last year for Atlanta — struck out Diaz to strand runners at second and third in the seventh.
After Krehbiel retired Dalton Guthrie on a fly to right, Williams — who has stolen 23 Triple-A bases this season with Dodgers affiliate Oklahoma City and the Stripers — ended the game with his blast on a 2-2 pitch.
The series is scheduled to finish with a 6:05 game Sunday night. The Tides are 3-2 in the series so far.
