Knights keep Tides from sweep
Just when it looked like the Norfolk Tides were unstoppable, the Charlotte Knights proved otherwise.
The Knights (2-7) gained their only victory of a six-game series, ending the Tides’ five-game winning streak by defeating them 6-2 Sunday before 5,745 at Truist Field in North Carolina.
Until then, the Tides (7-2) had scored at least five runs in every game and at least nine in all of their victories. But Chad Kuhl, winner Johan Dominguez and Justin Anderson combined to hld Norfolk to seven hits, walked five and struck out nine.
Tides left-hander Cade Povich was effective, too, striking out nine, walking three and giving up two hits and a run in five-plus innings to lower his earned-run average to 0.82.
Nick Maton’s sacrifice fly scored Connor Norby in the first inning, and Norby’s single brought home Errol Robinson in the fifth for a 2-0 Tides lead.
In the sixth, Zach DeLoach drew Charlotte’s third walk of the inning, forcing home Zach Remillard. In the seventh, RBI singles by Colson Montgomery and Chuckie Robinson gave the Knights a 3-2 edge and eventually led to a loss for Andrew Suárez.
Charlotte then virtually put away the victory when Danny Mendick socked a three-run homer off Kaleb Ort in the eighth.
The Tides nevertheless will return to Harbor Park as the East Division leaders for a six-game series against Scranton/WilkesBarre, the New York Yankees’ top affiliate, starting Tuesday night.
Late Saturday
Norfolk 13, Charlotte 1: The Tides scored in double digits for the sixth time this season, amassing 17 hits in a rout before 6,913 fans.
Norby’s two-run homer in the third inning began the scoring. Ryan McKenna, who barely missed making the Orioles’ opening-day roster, was 3 for 6 with a homer and two RBIs. Peyton Burdick also connected.
Among the Tides’ nine starting hitters, only catcher Maverick Handley — who had a hit and one of Norfolk’s 10 walks — did not score. Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo, Kyle Stowers, Burdick and McKenna crossed the plate twice apiece as the Tides frustrated six Charlotte pitchers.
Former Baltimore All-Star pitcher John Means pitched three innings, striking out four and walking one. He gave up just one hit and one run. The left-hander is on a rehabilitation program after being forced to shut down late last season because of left elbow problems.
Means was far more effective than in his first rehab start, when Durham pounded him for six runs in his only inning.
After Means left the mound, Albert Suárez (1-0) provided brilliant relief. He gave up two hits and no walks in six innings, striking out five.