Home runs power Tides over Charlotte
Zelous Wheeler homered twice and drove in four runs as the Norfolk Tides mounted an eighth inning rally to knock off the Charlotte Knights 6-3 Friday night at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, SC.
The Tides would hit three total home runs in the ballgame as Jason Pridie began the power display of Charlotte starter Zach Stewart with a solo homer with one away in the opening inning as Norfolk led 1-0.
Tsuyoshi Wada was on the hill for the Tides and while the Knights didn't hit him particularly hard in the game, the left-hander ran into some trouble in the second inning following three consecutive singles and after a bases loaded walk by former Tide Steve Tolleson and a run-scoring double play, Charlotte led 2-1 after two.
Wheeler knotted the contest at two apiece with his first home run, a solo shot to lead off the fourth, a score that remain the same until the seventh.
Wada would retire the opening batter of the seventh before Andy Wilkins homered for the fourth time in three games against the Tides to put the Knights in front, 3-2. The Japanese left-hander Wada would depart after issuing a walk following the long ball, giving way to Chris Jones (3-2), and was charged with three runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 6.1 innings. He was on the hook for the loss until Norfolk's eighth inning rally.
Stewart exited in favor of Simon Castro (3-7) after six, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. After working a perfect 1-2-3 seventh inning, the Tides got to Castro in the eighth as Xavier Avery walked and Jason Pridie bunted for a base hit to set the stage for Wheeler as the second baseman belted a three-run home run into left center, his second of the game, to give Norfolk a 5-3 lead. L.J. Hoes doubled with one out to chase Castro and later scored to extend the lead to 6-3.
Adam Russell recorded his second save of the season and in as many chances working a perfect ninth inning with a couple of strikeouts.
Notes: Hoes extended his season-high hitting streak to nine games with his 33rd multi-hit game of the season…Wheeler also extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games and collected his second multi-home run game of the season…Chris Jones has allowed just two earned runs in 28.1 innings over his last nine outings.
The Tides return home for a six-game home beginning Saturday against the Knights. Norfolk sends right-hander Josh Stinson (5-4, 4.10) to the hill opposite Charlotte right-hander Andre Rienzo (6-6, 4.47). Action begins at 7:05 p.m. at Harbor Park and on ESPN Radio 94.1.