Win streak ends at eight with 5-4 loss
With the score knotted at 3-3, Virginia Beach native David Winfree hit the first pitch of the 12th inning off of Ross Wolf (1-1) to give the Red Wings a 4-3 advantage. Alexi Casilla later added a two-out run-scoring single off of Wolf to extend the Red Wings lead to 5-3.
Norfolk rallied in the bottom of the frame by scoring an unearned run off of Bobby Keppel, but the former Tide escaped further damage by inducing a ground ball from Justin Christian with runners on first and third to escape the threat and record his first save of the year.
The Tides had trailed the contest 3-2 entering the ninth inning, but Justin Christian scored the tying run from second base when Kevin Mulvey uncorked a wild pitch and on the same play catcher Drew Butera threw the ball into left field, allowing Christian to tie the game.
Tides starter Jason Berken was effective once again, as he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work. Berken also struck out a season-high seven in the contest, throwing 65 of his 98 pitches for strikes.
Matt Wieters paced Norfolk's offense with a solo home run in the first inning, his first of the year at Harbor Park. Wieters also drove home Norfolk's second run of the contest with a sacrifice fly in the sixth that plated Joey Gathright, who had led off the inning with a triple.
The loss snapped Norfolk's eight-game winning streak, as well as the Tides' eight-game winning streak at home.
The Tides and Red Wings will square off again on Friday night, with first pitch slated for 7:15. Dave Hernandez (3-1, 3.50) will take the hill for Norfolk against Rochester southpaw Reid Santos (0-1, 5.96).