Norfolk Snaps Losing Streak in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Norfolk Tides (8-11) beat the the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (11-8), 4-1, on Friday night at 121 Financial Ballpark. Heston Kjerstad launched two home runs in the win, while Cade Povich struck out nine batters in 5.1 innings.

Norfolk got the bats going early Friday night, collecting back-to-back singles from Connor Norby and Heston Kjerstad to lead off the game. Coby Mayo handed the Tides their first lead of the series in the next at bat when his ground out brought home Norby.

Then in the top of the fifth, Kjerstad launched a solo home run on the first pitch he saw over the left field fence, extending the Tides lead to 2-0. In the top of the sixth, Daniel Johnson worked a two out walk to get things going again for the Tides. Then, Maverick Handley roped a single into center field that scored Johnson from first base to give Norfolk a 3-0 lead.

Kjerstad tacked on another run in the top of the seventh when he drove a home run over the short porch in right field, lifting the Tides to a 4-0 lead. His two-homer night marked the third of the season for Kjerstad, who collected his league leading 10th long ball and drove in his International League best 30th RBI of the season.

Jacksonville scored once in the seventh, but were unable to plate anymore runners, falling to the Tides for the first time this series.

On the mound, Cade Povich held Jacksonville in check through his scoreless 5.1 inning start. He punched out nine batters while allowing just three hits, four walks and one Jumbo Shrimp runner to reach third base throughout his start. Norfolk pitchers combined to strike out 12 batters, two shy of their season high as a staff.

RHP Justin Armbruester (0-2, 10.03) will start on the hill for the Tides tomorrow, with RHP Max Meyer (0-0, 0.00) on the mound for Jacksonville in his season debut with the Jumbo Shrimp for the fourth game of the series. First pitch at 6:35 p.m.

POSTGAME NOTES

Connor Can Hit: Collecting his eighth multi-hit game of the season tonight was Connor Norby, who went 2-for-5 with a run...he currently ranks fourth in the International League in hits (23), two behind teammate Coby Mayo and is tied for fifth in runs (16).

Cade the K Machine: Earning the win tonight was Cade Povich...the lefty worked 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out nine batters, allowing just three hits and four walks...he’s the first Norfolk pitcher to fan at least nine batters in three straight outings since Grayson Rodriguez did so from May 17 - 27, 2022...Povich struck out the side in the first inning against the Jumbo Shrimp, marking the fifth time in his Tides career and second time this season that he’s punched out all three batters in an inning.

Heston Kjerstad: Notching his third multi-home run game of the season tonight was Heston Kjerstad...the lefty launched both home runs on the first pitch of the at bat...Kjerstad, Reno’s Andrés Chaparro and teammate Peyton Burdick lead all of Triple-A with three first-pitch homers this season...Kjerstad leads all minor league hitters with 30 RBI and is tied for the most homers among all professional hitters with 10.