Cameron’s walk-off, 3-run homer caps Tides’ rally

In a magical season, the Norfolk Tides provided perhaps their most magical moment Tuesday night.

Daz Cameron slugged a threerun homer to left field, capping a comeback from a six-run deficit and giving the Tides a 9-7 victory over the Syracuse Mets before 3,395 fans in the opener of a six-game series at Harbor Park.

On a night in which Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson signed autographs on ODU Night,

Norfolk (29-10) fell behind on Ronny Mauricio’s two-run single off starter DL Hall in the third inning. The Mets (16-24) then pounded rehabbing Baltimore Orioles reliever Dillon Tate for four earned runs and six hits in a third of an inning.

Josh Lester’s homer in the fourth began the comeback, and the International League-leading Tides pulled to within 6-3 in the sixth when Jordan Westburg hit an RBI double and Lester scored on Lewin Diaz’s groundout.

In the seventh, Mark Vientos’ home run padded the Mets’ lead to 7-3, but the Tides pulled to 7-4 when the Mets’ second baseman, committed a throwing error. Maverick Handley’s single brought home Cameron in the eighth, and the Tides trailed 7-5 entering the ninth.

Connor Norby reached first on a throwing error by third baseman Danny Mendick, and Lester’s single to right field moved Norby to third.

Westburg hit a soft RBI double to right, putting runners at second and third. Reliever John Curtiss struck Diaz out before Cameron launched his third hit of the game, belting a 2-0 pitch over the wall and into the picnic area. That gave Reed Garrett (3-1), who held the Mets scoreless in the ninth, the victory.

Jaylin Davis and Tim Locastro scored twice apiece for Syracuse, whose starting lineup included former MLB regulars Gary Sanchez at catcher and Abraham Almonte in left field.

The teams continued their series Wednesday night.