Mountcastle matches franchise record with three home runs
Ryan Mountcastle matched a franchise record with three home runs, powering Norfolk to an 11-5 win over the Louisville Bats Sunday afternoon at Harbor Park.
Mountcastle, who hit a walk-off home run in Saturday night's victory over Louisville, continued his torrid stretch at the plate by hitting a solo homer in the first inning, a two-run shot in the third frame and another two-run homer in the sixth. The three-homer contest was just the seventh in Tides franchise history and the first since Chase Lambin accomplished the feat during the 2005 campaign. Mountcastle is the first Tides player to register three homers in a game as an Orioles affiliate, and he's the first Norfolk player to hit three home runs in a game at Harbor Park.
The 22-year-old, who is rated as the #1 prospect in the Orioles system, is now hitting .328 with 11 home runs and 39 runs batted in this season. He has 22 multi-hit contests in 46 games played, and he now ranks among International League leaders in hits (T-3rd, 63), total bases (T-3rd, 111), RBI (T-4th, 39) and batting average (7th ,.328). The three-homer contest was the second of his career, as he also accomplished the feat for Class-A Frederick during the 2017 season.
With the four homers Sunday, the Tides have now hit 37 home runs at Harbor Park this season - just two homers shy of matching the 39 home runs the Tides hit at home all of last season.
Norfolk starter
With the win, Norfolk concluded its third consecutive season series win against Louisville. The Tides also captured season sets against the Bats in 2017 (7-3) and 2018 (6-3).
The Tides will take to the road on Monday to kick off a seven-game trip with a 7:05 contest at Durham.
Notes: The game was delayed for 67 minutes due to rain before the start of the seventh inning…