The Norfolk Tides opened the second half of the season just like they played the first — in dominating fashion.
Grayson Rodriguez pitched six strong innings to improve to 4-0 with Norfolk and Maverick Handley drove in three runs with a pair of doubles as the Tides rolled to a 12-5 victory over the Charlotte Knights before 10,213 fans who enjoyed Turn Back the Clock Night at Harbor Park on Wednesday.
It is the 13th time the Tides (49-26) have scored in double digits this season. They finished 4.5 games ahead of Iowa to win the International League’s first half and clinch a spot in the three-game League Championship Series in late September.
Rodriguez allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Since the Baltimore Orioles optioned him in late May, he has posted a 2.22 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28.1 innings.
The Tides gave him a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Josh Lester hit a two-run single off Charlotte starter Chase Solesky (0-2) and Joey Ortiz added an RBI groundout in his first game back with Norfolk since June 13.
Norfolk scored single runs in the second and third innings on Colton Cowser’s RBI double and Connor Norby’s ninth homer of the season to go up 5-1.
The Tides broke it open with a four-run sixth. Handley hit an RBI double, Ryan Mountcastle added a two-run single and Heston Kjerstad capped it with an RBI single to make it 9-2.
Handley’s two-run double sparked a three-run seventh. He finished with two hits along with Cowser, Mountcastle, Norby and Ortiz. The Tides outhit the Knights 13-7.
The teams will play a 12:05 p.m. game Thursday. Norfolk is expected to start left-hander Drew Rom (5-5, 5.16), while the Knights will counter with left-hander Sammy Peralta (3-2, 4.89).
