Close Game Gets Away From Norfolk in Gwinnett

The Tides lost their fourth of fifth game at Gwinnett, falling 5-2. It was Norfolk’s fourth straight loss and they’ve dropped 12 of their last 13 games.

Gwinnett scored first again this series, this time in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, Yolmer Sanchez hit a two-run single to put the Stripers up, 2-0. Norfolk responded with two runs of their own right back in the top of the third inning. Robert Neustrom knocked in the first run with an RBI infield single. Jahmai Jones followed suit with an RBI single himself to tie the game at 2-2.

Those would be the only runs the Tides would score, as Gwinnett took the lead on an RBI single by Alex Jackson in the bottom of the third inning to go up, 3-2. Dean Kremer exited for the Tides with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three. He would go on to fall to an 0-4 record.

The Stripers would go on to score two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After robbing a Stevie Wilkerson home run in the fourth inning, right fielder Drew Waters hit a home run himself. It was Waters’ third straight game with a home run. Later in the inning, Gwinnett scratched across another run on a fielder’s choice to extend their lead, 5-2.

That would be all either team could score, as A.J. Minter entered to pitch for Gwinnett and earned his second save of the season. Tomorrow’s series finale starts at 1:05 p.m. with RHP Claudio Custodio (1-0, 3.00) will make his first start of the season for the Tides while RHP Tanner Roark (2-1, 2.93) will start for the Stripers.