Joey Ortiz’s three-run homer and Heston Kjerstad’s three hits and two runs propelled the Norfolk Tides to a 6-3 victory before 5,197 Sunday at Harbor Park over Nashville, giving them a split of the six-game series.
The Tides (63-37, 15-11 in the International League’s second half) cuffed around Sounds starter Jason Alexander (2-2), collecting 10 hits and six runs off him in 4 2/3 innings.
Tides starter Ryan Watson gave up two runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out five. The Norfolk bullpen, led by winner Noah Denoyer (3-0) and Kyle Dowdy, shut down the Sounds until Ofreidy Gomez yielded a relatively insignificant run in the ninth.
Kjerstad slugged a first-inning homer, and the Tides went ahead 3-0 in the second. Anthony Bemboom hit an RBI double before Daz Cameron scored on Nashville first baseman Payton Henry’s error.
The Sounds (54-46, 14-12) pulled to 3-2, thanks to Luis Urias’ sacrifice fly and ex-Tide Patrick Dorrian’s homer, but Ortiz’s blast to left in the fourth inning scored Connor Norby and Kjerstad ahead of him, putting Norfolk in control at 6-2. Norby extended his on-base streak to 21 games.
Norfolk is off Monday before playing host to the Charlotte Knights, who have the IL second half’s worst record, in a seven-game, six-day series.
Late Saturday
Sounds 5, Tides 4: Nashville second baseman Josh VanMeter’s redemption brought the Tides frustration.
VanMeter atoned for a costly error by socking a two-run go-ahead homer in the ninth inning of a 94-degree Saturday night, giving the Sounds a victory before 6,710.
Norfolk starter Drew Rom had been in line for the victory. He threw a career-high 105 pitches, lasting 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander gave up eight hits but just two runs, striking out six and walking two.
The Sounds went ahead in the first as VanMeter scored when Skye Bolt blooped a single to right. Norfolk quickly tied the game on Connor Norby’s home run to left in the botttom of the first.
Nashville went up 2-1 in the fourth as Bolt crossed the plate on Monte Harrison’s single to center. But again, the Tides answered in the bottom of the fourth.
Kyle Stowers led off with a double and went to third with one out on Cesar Prieto’s infield single. Josh Lester grounded a tying RBI double to center field. Norfolk went ahead 4-2 when VanMeter mishandled a Lewin Diaz batted ball, allowing Prieto and Lester to score.
Relievers T.J. McFarland and Nick Vespi contained Nashville, preserving the lead. But Logan Gillaspie wasn’t so fortunate in the ninth, when the Sounds went ahead without making an out.
Harrison led off with a double to right, and Luis Urias doubled to left to cut Norfolk’s lead to 4-3. VanMeter belted a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left-center, scoring the go-ahead run.
Gillaspie avoided further damage, but Thyago Vieira retired the Tides 1-2-3 in the ninth for a save.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE SECOND-HALF STANDINGS
(through all but one of Sunday’s games; 1H refers to the team’s first-half record)
Team, W-L, Pct., 1H
Buffalo (Blue Jays), 17-9, .654, -, 34-41
Lehigh Valley (Phillies), 16-10, .615, 1.0, 36-37
Iowa (Cubs), 16-11, .593, 1.5, 43-30
St. Paul (Twins), 16-11, .593, 1.5, 43-31
c-Norfolk (Orioles), 15-11, .577, 2.0, 48-26
Worcester (Red Sox), 15-11, .577, 2.0, 39-36
Indianapolis (Pirates), 15-12, .556, 2.5, 33-41
Rochester (Nationals), 15-12, .556, 2.5, 34-39
*Durham (Rays), 14-12, .538, 3.0, 40-35
Nashville (Brewers), 14-12, .538, 3.0, 40-34
Jacksonville (Marlins), 14-13, .519, 3.5, 32-42
Louisville (Reds), 13-14, .481, 4.5, 40-33
Memphis (Cardinals), 13-14, .481, 4.5, 39-36
Scranton/W-B (Yankees), 12-13, .480, 4.5, 34-40
Columbus (Guardians), 12-14, .462, 5.0, 33-41
Gwinnett (Braves), 12-14, .462, 5.0, 33-42
Omaha (Royals), 12-14, .462, 5.0, 38-34
Syracuse (Mets), 9-17, .346, 8.0, 33-41
Toledo (Tigers), 9-18, .333, 8.5, 33-41
*Charlotte (White Sox), 4-21, .160, 12.5, 35-40
*Does not include Sunday’s result.
c-clinched first-half title and berth in championship series in September.
