Grassfield High graduate Garrett Stallings pitched five strong innings for the victory as the Norfolk Tides posted a 9-2 rout of Memphis on Saturday night before 4,197 at AutoZone Park in Tennessee.
Stallings struck out five, walked two and scattered seven hits on 90 pitches for the Tides. Connor Norby’s three-run homer in the second inning put the Tides ahead, and a six-run eighth virtually clinched the victory.
LAUNCHED. 🚀🚀🚀@norby_connor hits a 431 foot blast to give the Tides a 3-0 lead in the third!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/nwMOTS69Tt
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 20, 2023
After losing the series’ first three games near Elvis Presley’s first recording studio, the Tides (71-47, 23-21 in the International League’s second half) found their rhythm, have won two in a row and can earn a split with a victory at 3:05 Sunday afternoon against the Redbirds (59-60, 20-24).
After Stallings (5-4) departed, Morgan McSweeney, Bryan Baker and Nolan Hoffman were effective in relief to finish the game.
Redbirds starter Michael McGreevy (7-5) pitched six innings but took the loss, yielding five hits, two walks and three runs. The Tides roughed up reliever Ryan Loutos for six hits and six runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Josh Lester had three hits, and he, Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo drove in two runs apiece. Daz Cameron and Jose Godoy had two hits each, and Lester scored twice.
Memphis’ No. 9 batter, shortstop Kramer Robertson, was 3 for 3 with an RBI.
