Tides see losing streak reach 10
Two weeks ago, it would have seemed impossible to fathom. But unfortunately for the Norfolk Tides, they are on a 10-game losing streak and can’t buy a big hit.
Thursday night’s 3-1 defeat at Jacksonville before a crowd of 5,912 gave the Jumbo Shrimp a 3-0 lead in their series at 121 Financial Ballpark in Florida. It came after Charlotte ended the Tides’ five-game winning streak in their series finale and before Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre swept a six-game series at Harbor Park.
The defending International League and Triple-A national champions began the season 7-1, scoring at least nine runs in every victory. Now they’re 7-11 and have averaged 2.7 runs per game in their slide.
The series resumed Friday night and will continue at 6:05 tonight.
Norfolk got a solid five-inning start from left-hander Bruce Zimmermann (1-2) — three runs (two earned), five hits and a walk — and shutout relief from Tucker Davidson and Bryan Baker, but couldn’t capitalize on it.
Yonny Chirinos (2-2), who pitched the first five innings, and relievers Devin Smeltzer and Anthony Maldonado frustrated Norfolk. Heston Kjerstad was 3 for 3, but his fellow Tides were 4 for 29.
In the second inning, the Shrimp (11-7) went ahead 2-0 on one play. Victor Mesa singled and scored on a triple to right field by Tristan Gray, who scored when second baseman Connor Norby threw the ball away.
Norfolk answered with two out in the fifth on Kjerstad’s eighth home run of the year, a blast to center field.
Defense again betrayed the Tides in the bottom of the fifth. Jose Devers singled and reached second when left fielder Kyle Stowers committed a fielding error. That enabled Devers to score when Jonah Bride lined a single to right.