Tides wrap homestand with doubleheader split

Andrew Susac hit a three-run homer and Norfolk got a strong start from Tim Melville to blank the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 5-0 in game two of a doubleheader Wednesday at Harbor Park. Lehigh Valley outslugged Norfolk in game one, 9-8. 

Susac wasted little time in giving Norfolk a lead in game two, as he hit an opposite-field, two-out blast off of Jake Waguespack (0-1) in the first inning to give the Tides a 3-0 lead. The homer extended Susac's hitting streak to 11 games, matching a career-high stretch that he also had with Triple-A Fresno in 2013. 
Norfolk extended its lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning, courtesy of RBI singles from Sharlon Schoop and Alex Presley. 
The offense was plenty for Norfolk starter Tim Melville (2-0), who combined with Matt Wotherspoon on the four-hit shutout. Melville yielded four singles and two walks while striking out three, lowering his ERA to 1.65 this season. 
In game one, the IronPigs rallied with three seventh inning runs to top the Tides, 9-8. 
Norfolk entered the final frame with an 8-6 lead, but Lehigh Valley mounted a game-winning rally against Tides closer Jhan Mariñez (0-2). Dean Anna opened the frame with a single before Dylan Cozens reached on an error by Engelb Vielma. Mitch Walding then roped a double into right-center field - his fourth hit of the game - to tie the contest at 8-8. One out later, Jesmuel Valentín tripled to the right-center field gap, plating Walding and giving the IronPigs the 9-8 lead. 
The rally made a winner out of Ranfi Casimiro (2-0), while former Tide Pedro Beato worked the seventh inning to earn his fourth save of the season. 
Garabez Rosa paced Norfolk's offense with four RBI, three of which came on a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. Presley doubled twice and drove in a run as part of a three-hit contest, while Joey Rickard added a two-run double. 
Norfolk starter Yefry Ramírez yielded five runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings of work. He did not allow a run over the first two frames, but surrendered three runs in the third and two more in the fourth before being chased from the contest. He struck out three and walked one, throwing 47 of his 77 pitches for strikes. 
With the doubleheader split, Norfolk (10-7) upped its lead in the International League South Division to a season-high 2.5 games.
After an off day Thursday, Norfolk opens up a three-game road series in Charlotte against the Knights on Friday night. Jimmy Yacabonis (0-0, 3.60) is set to start for the Tides and will be opposed by left-hander TJ House (0-3, 9.75). The Tides return to Harbor Park on Monday, kicking off a seven-game homestand with a 6:35 game against the Durham Bulls. 
Notes: The two teams combined for 12 extra-base hits in the opener, with Lehigh Valley registering five doubles, two triples and a home run…Josh Edgin allowed a solo homer to Mitch Walding in the opener, the first run Edgin has allowed this season…Joey Rickard reached base safely in each contest, extending his on-base stretch to 14 consecutive contests…Game two was delayed for 15 minutes with two outs in the top of the 5th inning due to lightning…Norfolk wrapped up its homestand with a 4-2 mark.
Game 1 Video Highlights