Troy Johnston went 3 for 4 with a homer and five RBIs, Ryan Weathers pitched six strong innings and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp downed the Norfolk Tides 6-2 before 5,151 fans Friday night at 121 Financial Ballpark in Florida.
The Jumbo Shrimp (54-57, 22-15 in second half) clinched the six-game set with their fourth straight victory, handing the Tides (68-43, 20-17) their first series loss since mid-June and their season-high fifth straight defeat.
Norfolk, which has relied all season on an offense that ranks among the top five International League teams in hits, runs and RBIs, has been in an offensive funk. It has scored two or fewer runs in five straight games.
The Tides took a 1-0 lead on Daz Cameron’s 15th homer of the season in the top of the second inning. They failed to score again until the top of the ninth, when Cameron drew a bases-loaded walk.
Jacksonville tied it at 1 in the bottom of the third on Johnston’s RBI single, then took the lead for good at 3-1 in the fifth on Johnston’s two-run homer. The Jumbo Shrimp scored three more runs in the seventh on a throwing error and Johnston’s two-run single.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville starter Weathers (1-0) limited the Tides to a run on three hits in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.
Norfolk starter Justin Armbruester gave up a run on five hits in 3.1 innings. DL Hall (1-2) relieved him, but allowed two runs — on Johnston’s homer — in 1.2 innings. He struck out four and walked one. Ryan Watson gave up the three runs in the seventh.
Aaron Hicks made a rehab start for the Tides, playing DH and batting second. He went 1 for 4 with a run and two strikeouts. The Baltimore Orioles placed him on the 10-day injured list on July 25 with a left hamstring strain.
Lewin Díaz went 2 for 3 and was the only Tides batter with multiple hits.
The teams are set to play at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, with the Tides expected to start left-hander Bruce Zimmermann (3-4, 3.13) against Jumbo Shrimp righty Edward Cabrera (1-0, 3.00).
