Norfolk plated three runs in the eighth inning and loaded the bases in the ninth but ultimately dropped a 5-4 decision Wednesday night at Huntington Park.
Norfolk plated three runs in the eighth inning and loaded the bases in the ninth but ultimately dropped a 5-4 decision Wednesday night at Huntington Park.
The Tides trailed the contest 3-0 and 4-1 before rallying against the Clippers bullpen in the eighth. Ryan Mountcastle had an RBI single in the frame, while Jace Peterson and Anthony Santander added run-scoring groundouts.
Norfolk mounted a two-out rally in the ninth inning, as Jack Reinheimer, Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart all drew two-out walks. The Clippers escaped the bases loaded threat, however, as Mountcastle popped out to end the contest and give the Clippers their second straight win over the Tides.
Mullins, playing in his first game with the Tides this season, singled, walked twice and scored a run to help pace Norfolk's offense. Christopher Bostick added an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to nine games, the longest streak by a Tides player this season.
Keegan Akin (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on five hits over four innings of work. He walked one and struck out five while throwing 59 of his 85 pitches for strikes.
The two teams will wrap up their series on Thursday morning, with first pitch slated for 11:35. Yefry Ramírez gets the start for Norfolk while the Clippers will counter with former Tide Asher Wojciechowski.
