The Norfolk Tides’ malaise on their current trip continued with a 6-2 defeat to the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park before 1,710 in Tennessee.
Masyn Winn, perhaps the St. Louis Cardinals’ top prospect, was 3 for 4 and scored twice.
The Tides, whose scoreless streak in Memphis reached 25 innings before Coby Mayo’s two-run single in the eighth inning, fell to 0-3 in the series and 1-8 on an excursion that began in Jacksonville. The first-half International League champs are 69-47 overall, 21-21 in the second half. The Redbirds are 59-58, 20-22,
Memphis’ Chase Pinder, a former Poquoson High and Clemson star, opened the scoring in the second inning by blooping a single to right field off starter Justin Armbruester (1-2) to bring home Juniel Querecuto. Pinder and Cesar Prieto, a former Tide traded to St. Louis in the deal that brought pitcher Jack Flaherty to Baltimore, each had two hits and an RBI.
Winn blasted a solo homer well beyond the fence in left-center field in the third. The Redbirds went up 5-0 in the fifth against reliever Ryan Watson on RBI doubles by Prieto and Nick Dunn, followed by Querecuto’s sacrifice fly.
Connor Norby, who had two hits, was ejected after striking out to open the Tides’ eighth. But Heston Kjerstad walked, Joey Ortiz singled and both runners advanced on Kyle Stowers’ groundout. Mayo then ended Norfolk’s drought on a single to left.
Matt Koperniak singled home Querecuto in the Memphis eighth to complete the scoring.
Chris Roycroft (3-1) got four early outs for the victory, and fellow Memphis reliever Adam Kloffenstein followed him by pitching five innings.
The series will continue with an 8:05 p.m. clash Friday. The Tides will need a three-game winning streak to earn a split.
