Tides come apart late
Stripers tally 5 runs over final 2 innings
The Norfolk Tides' homestand began Tuesday night with a 9-4 loss to Gwinnett, which broke away from a 4-4 tie with two runs in the eighth inning and three in the ninth.
Maverick Handley drove in three runs for the Tides (9-13), though no Norfolk player had more than one of their seven hits. The Tides failed to capitalize much on nine walks issued by the Stripers.
It was the opener of a six-game International League series that continued with a 6:35 p.m. game Wednesday.
Left-hander John Means' rehabilitation assignment from Baltimore continued with mixed results. He gave up seven hits and three earned runs in 4 ⅓ innings, walking one and striking out five. That left the former MLB All-Star's ERA at 13.89.
The Stripers (10-11), Atlanta's top farm club, went ahead to stay in the eighth when
Alejo Lopez hit an opposite-field single down the left-field line off Nolan Hoffman (0-1) to drive in two runs.
For Gwinnett, Lopez had three RBIs, J.P. Martinez was 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI, and Forrest Wall was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
The Tides took their only lead in the second inning when Handley lined a two-run double to the base of the wall in left field. His walk with the bases loaded drew Norfolk within 4-3.
Reliever Daysbel Hernandez (1-0) survived three walks in one scoreless inning for the victory. Grant Holmes got the final five outs for a save.
Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann (1-2, 6.52 ERA) was listed to pitch Wednesday for Norfolk, while Gwinnett planned to start righty AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1, 8.22).
The teams also meet in a matinee at 12:05 this afternoon.