New Triple-A players help Tides split a doubleheader

A night after clinching an International League playoff berth, the Norfolk Tides split a doubleheader with the Nashville Sounds in Tennessee.

The Tides (47-24) won 3-0 in Thursday’s Game 2 after losing 7-1 in the opener to the Sounds (38-33).

Justin Armbruester, a 24-yearold right-hander, made an outstanding Triple-A pitching debut in Game 2, holding Nashville to two hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings. Joey Krehbiel and another pitcher making his Triple-A debut, Wandisson Charles, threw an inning apiece to complete the shutout.

Cesar Prieto — who, like Armbruester and Charles, recently was promoted from Double-A Bowie — hit a single that brought home Connor Norby and Heston Kjerstad in Game 2’s first inning. Prieto then slugged a third-inning homer.

In Game 1, Norfolk could have been experiencing a figurative hangover from the champagne-soaked party of the previous night, when the Tides ensured the IL’s first-half championship.

Winner Thomas Pannone (3-1) struck out 10 and held the Tides to five hits in 6 ⅔ innings. One of those was a homer to right-center in the fourth by Kjerstad. Alex Claudio got the final out.

Keston Hiura and Mike Brosseau hit two-run homers in the first and fourth innings, respectively, for Nashville, the Milwaukee Brewers’ top affiliate. Skye Bolt was 3 for 4 and scored twice.

The Tides’ Daz Cameron went 2 for 2, but his teammates combined for just three hits.

Norfolk starter Drew Rom (5-5) took the loss, giving up six earned runs and eight hits despite eight strikeouts in five innings.

The Tides tried to clinch a series split Friday night. Game 5 is set for 7:35 p.m. today.