The Norfolk Tides’ magic number to clinch the International League’s first-half title remained at five games after a 13-5 loss to the Worcester Red Sox before 4,704 fans Wednesday night at Harbor Park.
St. Paul (38-26), the IL West Division leader which boasts the second-best record in the league, routed Louisville 11-3 on Wednesday night.
Worcester (32-33) evened the series at a game apiece. It was the second-most runs the Tides (44-20) have given up all season.
Bobby Dalbec and Ryan Fitzgerald each hit two home runs and the Red Sox finished with six homers for the game. Ronaldo Hernández added five RBIs.
Norfolk starter DL Hall lasted only three innings, giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Worcester hammered four Tides relievers for 11 runs on 13 hits in six innings, including all six homers.
Worcester starter Matt Dermody (3-2) picked up the victory, giving up three runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Heston Kjerstad paced the Tides’ offense by going 3 for 5 with two runs. It was his first three-hit game in Triple-A. Daz Cameron added his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot, and Colton Cowser and Terrin Vavra had two hits each.
GONE! @daz_cameron16 breaks the scoring open with a two-run shot! It’s his 10th homer of the season!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/lWzxEomT38
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) June 14, 2023
The teams will play a 12:05 p.m. game Thursday. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (2-0, 2.81) is expected to take the mound for the Tides, while the Red Sox will counter with left-hander Shane Drohan (2-1, 5.55).
