Alvarez helps Tides to doubleheader split

Norfolk rallied from an early deficit to walk off with a 5-4 extra-inning win over Charlotte in game one of a doubleheader Friday night at Harbor Park. The Tides dropped game two, 6-5.

In the opener, Dariel Alvarez hit a one-out, bases loaded single in the last of the ninth, giving Norfolk a 4-3 walk-off win.

The Tides trailed the contest 3-1 entering the sixth inning but plated single runs in the sixth and seventh frames to force extra innings. Alvarez pulled the Tides within 3-2 in the sixth with an RBI single before Rey Navarro sent the game to extras with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

The Tides pushed across the winning run in the ninth, as Paul Janish led off the frame with a single before moving to second on a groundout by Henry Urrutia. After a single by Navarro moved pinch-runner Derrik Gibson to third, Blake Smith (0-2) uncorked a wild pitch before intentionally walking Christian Walker to load the bases. Alvarez then lined a 1-0 pitch deep into right-center field, scoring Gibson and giving Norfolk its eighth walk-off win of the season.

Chris Jones turned in another strong outing, as he allowed three runs on eight hits while matching his career-high with 7.0 innings pitched. He struck out three without walking a batter and needed just 81 pitches - including 60 strikes - to navigate his outing.

Steve Johnson (3-1) earned the victory with a shutout inning of relief.

In the nightcap, the Knights jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage and held off another Tides rally to knock off Norfolk 6-5.

Charlotte plated three runs off of Eddie Gamboa (7-6) in the first inning, then chased the knuckleballer before he could retire a batter in the second. The Knights then added a run in the third frame on an RBI single by Jason Coats to take a 5-0 lead.

Norfolk made a game of it in the third frame, as the Tides sent 10 men to the plate and scored four runs - all with two out. Alvarez singled home Urrutia to put the Tides on the board, and Michael Almanzar later followed with a three-run homer to pull the Tides within 5-4.

The Knights extended their lead to 6-4 on a solo homer by former Tide Chris Marerro in the fourth frame, but the Tides mounted one last rally in the seventh. Julio Borbon worked a one-out walk, then took second on defensive indifference. One out later, Urrutia laced a ball down the right field line to score Borbon, but Urrutia was thrown out trying to advance to second, ending the contest.

Alvarez finished the twinbill 6-for-9 with three RBI, as Norfolk (50-37) maintained its 1.5 game lead over Charlotte (50-40) with the doubleheader split.

The two clubs continue their series Saturday night at Harbor Park, with first pitch slated for 7:05. T.J. McFarland (2-2, 3.12) gets the start for Norfolk against right-hander Kyle Drabek (4-5, 2.64).

On Saturday, the Tides join forces with the Susan G. Komen foundation in the fight against breast cancer, as the first 2,000 ladies 18 and over will receive a pink clutch courtesy of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Norfolk will wear special pink uniforms in the contest and there will be a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

Notes: The doubleheader was the result of a rainout at Harbor Park on April 25…Norfolk improved to 8-5 in extra innings with its game one win…Henry Urrutia hit safely in both ends of the twinbill and has now hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games…Steve Clevenger went 1-for-4 with a run in game one to extend his hitting streak to five games…The start of game two was delayed seven minutes due to rain.