Just when it looked the Norfolk Tides were headed for their fourth consecutive loss, they made Friday a “Turn Back the Clock Night” — to the International League season’s first half.
The Tides overcame a five-run deficit to defeat Memphis 9-6 before 2,255 at AutoZone Park in Tennessee. All nine starting Norfolk batters, plus pinch runner Daz Cameron, had a run or an RBI.
Until Friday’s ninth inning, first-half champion Norfolk hadn’t led in a six-game series whose fifth game is set for Saturday night. But Josh Lester hit a go-ahead single, and the Tides tacked on two more runs to improve to 70-47, 22-21 in the IL’s second half. Memphis fell to 59-59, 20-23.
TIDES TAKE THE LEAD IN THE 9TH!!!! @joshlester4 knocks in the go-ahead run in part of a three-run inning!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/ddxQgFLg4T
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 19, 2023
Chase Pinder, from Poquoson High and Clemson, slugged a three-run homer in the second inning to put the Redbirds ahead 4-0 off Norfolk left-hander Bruce Zimmermann.
Coby Mayo countered with a solo home run in the top of the fourth to pull Norfolk to 4-1, but Memphis’ Juan Yepez hit a two-run single fielded by Tides shortstop Joseph Rosa in the bottom of the fourth.
Three guys who have spent MLB time with Baltimore this season sparked the Tides’ comeback in the fifth.Colton Cowser — recently sent down by the Orioles — boomed a solo home run to right-center to trim the deficit to 6-2. Joey Ortiz then doubled, and Kyle Stowers clubbed a two-run homer to center to make it 6-4 before Memphis could record an out.
Then in the sixth, Ortiz doubled home Maverick Handley before Rosa scored the tying run when Ryan Helsley walked Stowers on a ball-four wild pitch.
Norfolk it up at 6-6 with two runs in the 6th! Joey Ortiz knocked an RBI single, then the Tides scored on a wild pitch!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/RkKvFDcMSd
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 19, 2023
Meanwhile, relievers T.J. McFarland, DL Hall and winner Logan Gillaspie (3-5) combined to shut down the Redbirds for 4 1/3 innings.
With Memphis’ Grant Black (2-5) pitching in a 6-6 game in the ninth, Norfolk’s offense broke out like it did so many times from April through June.
Stowers and Mayo singled, putting runners at first and third. Lester’s RBI single gave Norfolk a 7-6 lead, and Lewin Diaz’s RBI double and Shayne Fontana’s sacrifice fly boosted the margin to 9-6.
Wandisson Charles pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Cesar Prieto, a Tide through most of July, and Yepez each had two hits for the Redbirds.
At 7:35 p.m. Saturday, Grassfield High alumnus Garrett Stallings (4-4, 5.84 ERA in Triple-A this season) is scheduled to pitch against the Redbirds’ Michael McGreevy (7-4, 4.38).
