Keston Hiura and Luis Urias each homered and the Nashville Sounds defeated the Norfolk Tides 5-3 in a rain-shortened game Wednesday night before 4,839 fans at Harbor Park.
Umpires stopped the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Tides’ Kyle Stowers at bat and representing the tying run. After a 36-minute delay, the game was called due to heavy rain.
Norfolk (60-36, 12-10 second half) lost its third straight for only the third time this season.
Hiura hit his 15th homer of the season, a solo shot, in the top of the fourth to give the Sounds (53-43, 13-9) — the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers — a 1-0 lead.
Norfolk’s Daz Cameron tied it in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double.
Nashville took control with a three-run fifth inning on RBI singles by Noah Campbell, Urias and Josh VanMeter. Urias added a solo homer in the top of the seventh to make it 5-1.
The Tides tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Lewin Diaz singled to lead off and Connor Norby hit a one-out triple to drive him in. Heston Kjerstad followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3.
Joey Ortiz grounded into a forceout at second for the second out, but then rain stopped play.
Nashville starter Caleb Boushley (6-4) gave up one run on six hits in six innings for the victory. Reliever Alex Claudio gave up both runs in the seventh. Peter Strzelecki retired Ortiz to get credit for a save.
Norfolk starter Garrett Stallings (2-3), a former Grassfield High star, allowed four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Diaz was the only Tides batter with two hits. Norfolk left seven on base and went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
The teams will be back in action at 12:05 p.m. Thursday for the third game of the series.
