Scranton tops Tides with late run

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to edge the Tides 4-3 Thursday night at Harbor Park.

With the score knotted at 3-3, Ramon Flores ignited the game-winning rally with a one-out double off of Chris Jones (1-3), Norfolk's fifth reliever of the contest. Virginia Beach native Scott Sizemore then followed by lining a single into left field to plate Flores, who was running on the pitch and scored without a throw. It was the second RBI hit of the night for Sizemore, who attended Hickory High School in Chesapeake before playing collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The late rally made a winner out of Williamsburg native Mark Montgomery (1-0), while Matt Daley worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save of the year.

The Tides had rallied to tie the contest three different times, as Norfolk matched single RailRider runs in the first, third and eighth innings. Caleb Joseph led Norfolk's offense with an RBI single in the first inning and a game-tying solo homer in the eighth - his second home run of the season.

Norfolk starter Mike Wright fell one out shy of recording a Quality Start, as he allowed two earned runs on five hits in 5.2 innings of work. The 24-year-old walked three and struck out three while throwing 100 pitches - the most by a Norfolk pitcher this season. Wright, the #8 prospect in the Orioles organization, has now posted a 2.86 ERA through five starts this year.

The two clubs continue their four-game series Friday night at Harbor Park, with first pitch slated for 7:05. Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.53) is scheduled to make the start for Norfolk against right-hander Brian Gordon (1-1, 3.51). The first 2,000 fans 18 and over will receive Tides fleece blankets, courtesy of Coke Zero and Fox 43.

Notes: Earlier Thursday, the Orioles optioned infielder Steve Lombardozzi and outrighted pitcher Josh Stinson to Norfolk…Prior to the game, Norfolk placed outfielder Henry Urrutia on the disabled list, retro to April 29, with an abdominal strain…Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had more 2013 Tides in its starting lineup (two) than Norfolk did (zero), as Zelous Wheeler and Russ Canzler were both in the RailRiders' lineup…Norfolk has not had a starting pitcher register a win this season…The Tides stole five bases in the contest, the first time Norfolk has stolen five bags in a game since July 26, 2011 at Toledo…With the loss, Norfolk dropped to 1-9 in one-run games this season…Quintin Berry singled to extend his hitting streak to six straight games.