Tides and Knights split Saturday twinbill

The Tides used a big evening from Ryan Mountcastle and a strong start from Josh Rogers to split a doubleheader vs. Charlotte Saturday night at Harbor Park. The Knights rallied for a 6-5 win in game one before the Tides took game two, 5-2. 

In the opener, Mountcastle homered and singled while driving in four, giving him four home runs over a five-game span. His two-run single in the third inning gave the Tides a 2-0 lead, while his two-run round tripper in the fifth inning extended Norfolk's advantage to 5-0. 
Tweet from @NorfolkTides: Four home runs in five games for @ryanmountcastle, who is all sorts of fire right now 🔥🔥🔥#TidalTown #Birdland pic.twitter.com/9skC6yAsGA
Norfolk got a great start from Yefry Ramírez, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before surrendering a one-out double to Zack Collins - the only hit Ramirez would allow in his outing. The 25-year-old right-hander walked three and struck out seven, giving him 14.0 shutout innings over three starts to open his 2019 campaign. 
Charlotte mounted a furious rally against the Tides bullpen, with DJ Peterson igniting the comeback with a three-run homer off of Nate Karns in the sixth frame. Karns, who joined the Tides on a rehab assignment Saturday, faced five batters in his outing, allowing two walks, a home run, a double and a flyout. 
The Tides entered the seventh frame with a 5-3 advantage, but Charlotte rallied against Luis Gonzalez and Jay Flaa (0-1) to take the lead. Gonzalez allowed a single, fielder's choice and double to open the seventh before Flaa entered the contest to try and quell the threat. Charlie Tilson greeted Flaa with a two-run double to knot the score, and Peterson later added a sacrifice fly that gave the Knights a 6-5 lead. 
Thiago Vieira made the lead hold up by working a scoreless seventh for his first save of the year. 
In the nightcap, Mountcastle got the Tides on the board with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, then singled and scored in a four-run third frame. Over his last 11 games, the 22-year-old has now hit .364 (16-44) with four home runs, three doubles and 15 RBI. 
Norfolk took control of the game in the third inning, courtesy of two Charlotte errors that extended the frame. DJ Stewart added an RBI single in the inning and Jace Peterson collected an RBI triple as the Tides plated four unearned runs off of Donny Roach (0-2). 
The early offense was more than enough for Rogers (1-1), who picked up his first win of the season after allowing one run on four hits over six strong innings. The left-hander out of the University of Louisville struck out four without walking a batter and needed just 88 pitches to navigate his outing. 
The Tides will wrap up their season-opening homestand on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 1:05. Gabriel Ynoa (1-0, 4.76) will make the start for the Tides and be opposed by left-hander Jordan Guerrero (0-1, 7.62).  
Notes: Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, C Austin Wynns was added to Norfolk's roster after being optioned from Baltimore, while C Carlos Pèrez was transferred to Double-A Bowie…UVA product Branden Kline was recalled to Baltimore on Saturday to serve as Baltimore's 26th Man for their doubleheader against Minnesota…Stevie Wilkerson singled three times, stole a base and scored two runs in the opener...Old Dominion University defensive end Oshane Ximines, who is expected to be selected in next week's NFL draft, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before game two.