The Louisville Bats jumped out to an early lead before holding off a furious Tides rally in a 7-6 win over Norfolk Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
The Louisville Bats jumped out to an early lead before holding off a furious Tides rally in a 7-6 win over Norfolk Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
The Bats jumped out to a 7-0 lead after five innings before Norfolk mounted its comeback bid in the sixth. One out after Chris Johnson reached on a single, Adam Brett Walker blasted an opposite field shot over the right field wall to get the Tides on the board. It was the first hit for Walker since he joined the Tides on Monday from Double-A Bowie, where he hit six home runs in 12 games with the Baysox after being signed by Baltimore as a minor league free agent.
The Tides added a pair of runs one inning later, as Johnny Giavotella and Francisco Peña connected on consecutive RBI doubles to pull Norfolk within 7-4.
Norfolk nearly knotted the score in the ninth, as Logan Schafer hit a one-out single before back-to-back walks loaded the bases, chasing reliever Lisalverto Bonilla from the contest. Jimmy Herget came on to face pinch-hitter Chance Sisco, and Sisco hit a sacrifice fly to the base of the left field wall to pull the Tides within 7-5. Pedro Álvarez then followed with an RBI single to put runners at the corners and bring Norfolk within one, but Herget escaped any further damage by striking out Johnson to end the threat and give the Bats the win in game two of the series.
Making his first appearance with the Tides since he was optioned from Baltimore, Gabriel Ynoa (1-6) took the loss after yielding five runs on five hits over 3.2 innings of work. Ynoa, who has posted a 4.26 ERA in four relief outings with the Orioles this season, yielded three runs in the third and two more in the fourth, walking two while striking out a pair.
Hernan Iribarren and Zach Vincej each had three hits and an RBI to help pace Louisville's 11-hit attack, while Brandon Dixon connected on a two-run home run. Bats starter Amir Garrett (1-0) earned the win after allowing two runs on three hits over 5.2 innings of work, but he was ejected after arguing with the home plate umpire after yielding Walker's home run in the sixth. Garrett, the #2 rated prospect in the Reds system per MLB.com, walked four and struck out four while throwing 52 of his 98 pitches for strikes.
David Washington singled in four at-bats to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest by a Tides player this season. Washington has also reached base safely in 23 consecutive contests.
The two teams continue their four-game set on Wednesday, with Tyler Wilson (2-4, 4.91) getting the start for Norfolk against right-hander Robert Stephenson (1-1, 2.89). First pitch from Harbor Park is set for 7:05.
Notes: Prior to Tuesday's game, IF Chris Johnson was reinstated from Norfolk's disabled list, RHP Scott McGough was transferred to Norfolk from Double-A Bowie, OF Mike Yastrzemski was transferred to Bowie, and 1B Jesus Montero was released…With four roster moves Tuesday, Norfolk has now made 149 roster moves this season, one shy of their entire 2017 season total of 150 transactions…The Tides wore retro Norfolk Tars jerseys as part of Turn Back the Clock Night.
June 27 highlights
