Tides end season-opening series at 2-4

The Norfolk Tides finished 2-4 in their season-opening Triple-A East series at Jacksonville, falling 9-7 Sunday before 2,629 in Florida.

The Jumbo Shrimp went ahead 5-1 in the first two innings, eventually dooming Norfolk starter Alexander Wells to the loss, and withstood rallies by the Tides.

Rylan Bannon drove in three runs for the Tides. He, Stevie Wilkerson, Richie Martin, Austin Wynns and Taylor Davis each had two of Norfolk’s 13 hits.

Monte Harrison and Jesus Sanchez had three hits apiece for the Shrimp, the Miami Marlins’ top affiliate. Sanchez and Tristan Pompey scored twice each.

Yusniel Diaz and Martin provided key hits as

Saturday night,

the Tides won 5-4 in 10 innings before 3,616.

The Shrimp twice took two-run leads, but the Tides came back each time.

Lewin Diaz’s two-run homer off Baltimore native Bruce Zimmermann, who pitched for the parent Orioles earlier this season, put Jacksonville ahead 2-0 in the third.

Norfolk pulled even in the fourth on Brett Cumberland’s two-run homer to right-center.

Jacksonville regained the lead in the seventh, 4-2, when Bryson Brigman grounded a two-run single to left field off Mickey Jannis.

Bannon began the ninth with a single off Zach Thompson, and Yusniel Diaz belted a two-run homer to left to tie the game.

Norfolk then got its next two batters on base, but Zach Thompson struck out the next three to end the inning.

In the Tides’ 10th, Mason McCoy started the inning on second base via tiebreaker rules and scored on Martin’s single to center off Brett Eibner (1-1).

The Shrimp had runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but winner Marcos Diplan struck out Eddy Alvarez and induced a groundout by Sanchez to end the game.

The Tides are off today before heading to Charlotte for six games against the Knights. Norfolk’s home opener is May 18 against the Jumbo Shrimp.

Sunday’s game:

Jacksonville 9, Norfolk 7: Norfolk 103 000 111 - 7 13 1

Jacksonville 321 010 20x - 9 15 2

W-Bassett (1-0). L-Wells (0-1).

S-Okert (1).

E-Norfolk, Jones (2); Jacksonville, Marrero (1), Sanchez (1).

2B-Norfolk, Bannon (2); Jacksonville, Pompey (1). 3B-Jacksonville, Sanchez (2). HR-Jacksonville, Navarreto (2). SB-Norfolk, Martin (2), Bannon (1); Jacksonville, Harrison (2). CS-Jacksonville, Marrero (1). OF assists-Norfolk, Diaz; Jacksonville, Sanchez.

T-3:20. A-2,629.

Saturday’s game:

Norfolk 5, Jacksonville 4, 10 innings:

Norfolk 000 200 002 1 — 5 9 0 Jacksonville 002 000 200 0 — 4 9 1

W-Diplan (1-0). L-Eibner (1-1). E-Jacksonville, Marte (2). 2B-Jacksonville, Sanchez (1), Miller (1). HR-Norfolk, Cumberland (1), Y. Diaz (1); Jacksonville, L. Diaz (3). DP-Norfolk 2, Jacksonville 1. PB-Norfolk, Cumberland (1).

T-3:06. A-3,616.

Next series schedule

Tuesday: at Charlotte, 7:04 p.m. Wednesday: at Charlotte, 7:04 p.m. Thursday: at Charlotte, 7:04 p.m. Friday: at Charlotte, 7:04 p.m. Saturday: at Charlotte, 7:04 p.m. Sunday: at Charlotte, 2:05 p.m.