Jacksonville powers past Tides on Saturday night
The seventh triple of the season by Tides hitters – who entered play on Saturday tied for the most three-baggers in the Triple-A East – and the second two-hit performance in as many Triple-A games for Tides outfielder Zach Jarrett wasn’t enough to overcome a two-home run, five-RBI night from
The seventh triple of the season by Tides hitters – who entered play on Saturday tied for the most three-baggers in the Triple-A East – and the second two-hit performance in as many Triple-A games for Tides outfielder Zach Jarrett wasn’t enough to overcome a two-home run, five-RBI night from Jacksonville catcher Jorge Alfaro, as Norfolk (3-14) fell to the Jumbo Shrimp by a 8-1 score Saturday night.
Tides starter Josh Rogers (5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 4 K) cruised through the first three innings, not allowing a runner to advance past first base and striking out three. In the top of the fourth, Jumbo Shrimp center fielder Monte Harrison led off with a walk, and a base hit from first baseman Lewin Diaz put runners on first and second. Alfaro then launched a home run to left-center field to give Jacksonville a 3-0 lead.
Rogers prevented the Shrimp from scoring again until the sixth inning, when Diaz led off with a single for his third hit of the night. Alfaro – playing for Jacksonville on a major league injury rehab assignment from the Miami Marlins -- followed with another home run, this one clearing the home bullpen beyond the right field wall, to make it a 5-0 ballgame.
Jumbo Shrimp starter Luis Madero (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K) kept Norfolk off the scoreboard before Jacksonville manager Al Pedrique went to his bullpen to start the sixth inning. Tides second baseman Ramon Urias greeted the new Jacksonville pitcher, Jake Fishman, with a leadoff triple off the right field fence. He scored two pitches later on a ball in the dirt that got past Alfaro and rolled to the backstop.
Jacksonville center fielder Monte Harrison extended the lead with a solo home run off of Norfolk reliever Tom Eshelman in the top of the eighth. The Jumbo Shrimp scored their seventh and eighth runs in the ninth inning on back-to-back Tides errors.
The six-game series between the Tides and Jacksonville (13-4) concludes Sunday afternoon at Harbor Park, with right-hander Spenser Watkins expected to take the ball for Norfolk.
The Tides will follow the series against Jacksonville by welcoming the Charlotte Knights to town for another six-game series, starting on Tuesday night. Harbor Park will return to full seating capacity beginning with Friday’s game against Charlotte.