Stowers Blasts Three Home Runs as Tides Rout Knights

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Norfolk Tides (20-22) routed the Charlotte Knights (17-25), 14-3, on Sunday at Truist Field. The Tides had a season-high six home runs, with Kyle Stowers hitting three of them.

Dylan Harris started the home run barrage with his first of the seaon in the second inning. That three-run blast was followed by another when Robert Neustrom did so in the third. Stowers led off the fifth inning with his first homer of the game. Kelvin Gutiérrez blasted a two-run homer later in the inning to take the 9-2 lead.

Stowers hit his second home run in the sixth inning, then hit his third home run in the seventh. It was a three-run shot, giving the Tides a 14-2 lead. After going 3-for-5 with four runs, three home runs, five RBI and a walk, Stowers extended his hitting streak to eight games...since that streak started on May 14, he’s hitting .438 (14-for-32) with four doubles, six home runs, 13 RBI and six walks...the streak is his longest of the season and the highest since he hit in 14 consecutive games with Double-A Bowie from July 9 - 23, 2021...it was his fifth multi-hit effort, and is on his second multi-hit streak (April 14 - 15 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre).

The three home run game was the second time a Tide has done so this season, when Ryan McKenna did so on May 11 vs. Memphis this year. The six homers in one game set the franchise record as an Orioles affiliate (since 2007). The last time Norfolk hit that many was when they set a franchise record seven at Charlotte on April 28, 2005.

Grayson Rodriguez earned the win for Norfolk. He went a season long six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine. He’s the only pitcher in the International league to record three straight starts with at least eight strikeouts The Tides return to Harbor Park for a two-week homestand on Tuesday night, with first pitch is at 6:35 p.m. vs. Gwinnett.

POSTGAME NOTES

• NEUS-BOMB: The three-run jack by Robert Neustrom in the third inning was his eighth of the season...he trails Kyle Stowers for the team lead in home runs...after going 4-for-4 with three runs, a double, the three-run homer, three RBI and a walk, Neustrom extended his hitting streak to five games, where he’shitting .364 (8-for-22) with two doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI...the four hits set his career-high.
• IT'S GOOD TO BE RICH: After going 3-for-5 with a run, a double and an RBI and a hit-by-pitch, Richie Martin extended his hitting streak to 12 games...it’s tied with Charlotte’s Mark Payton for the longest active streak in the International League, and the longest of his career...since Martin’s streak started on May 3, he’s hitting .388 (19-for-49) with five doubles, two triples, and three RBI.