Norfolk edges Syracuse in comeback win
The Tides jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of a sacrifice fly by Brandon Snyder and an RBI double by Michael Aubrey, but the Chiefs plated two runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead.
Norfolk reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the 6th frame, as Blake Davis and Justin Turner led off the inning with singles and scored when Jeff Fiorentino sliced a line drive past Syracuse left fielder Jorge Padilla. After the ball rolled all the way to the wall, Fiorentino raced home with an inside-the-park home run, the first for a Tides player since Anderson Hernandez accomplished the feat during the 2005 season.
Norfolk's lead was once again short-lived, however, as Syracuse rallied with two runs in the 7th on a two-run single by Kory Casto to take a 6-5 lead. The runs batted in were Casto's fourth and fifth of the contest.
The Tides mounted their finaly rally in the eighth inning, as they sent nine men to the plate and scored three runs to retake the lead. Norfolk knotted the score when Davis singled and eventually scored on a passed ball, and Snyder gave the Tides the lead with a one-out double to right-center field. Melvin Dorta's sacrifice fly capped the scoring and gave the Tides an 8-6 lead.
Jim Miller (3-3) earned the win for Norfolk with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, and Alberto Castillo worked a perfect ninth inning to register his eighth save of the season.
With two base hits in the contest, Justin Turner upped his hitting streak to nine games, while Snyder's RBI double extended his hitting streak to 10 consecutive contests.
The Tides and Chiefs will continue their four-game series on Sunday night, with first pitch from Harbor Park scheduled for 6:15. Radhames Liz (0-2, 6.00) will make his first start for Norfolk since being promoted from Double-A Bowie and will be opposed by right-hander Marco Estrada (5-4, 4.34).