Tides Lose Series Opener at Charlotte in 13 Innings
In a 13-inning thriller, Norfolk couldn’t hold off Charlotte in their six-game series opener, losing 5-4. It was just the third game the Tides have played into the 13th inning since the runner-at-second extra-innings rule was implemented in 2018. Brett Cumberland hit his sixth home run of the season in
In a 13-inning thriller, Norfolk couldn’t hold off Charlotte in their six-game series opener, losing 5-4. It was just the third game the Tides have played into the 13th inning since the runner-at-second extra-innings rule was implemented in 2018.
Brett Cumberland hit his sixth home run of the season in the top of the second to put the Tides on the board first. It was Cumberland’s fourth home run from the left side of the plate. Charlotte responded immediately with a leadoff home by Jake Burger and scored a second run after walking with the bases loaded, giving Charlotte an early 2-1 lead.
Norfolk retook a 3-2 lead in the fifth when **Yusniel Díaz** roped a two-run double to the right-center field gap to score **Seth Mejias-Brean** from third and **Jahmai Jones** from first. Since returning from Double-A Bowie on June 23, Díaz has hit safely in six of seven games batting .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles, a home run and three RBI. **Claudio Custodio** worked out of two crucial jams, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth inning and stranded runners at first and third in the sixth. He threw 3.0 scoreless innings, his longest outing of 2021 and his most innings pitched since September 2, 2019. Charlotte was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the eighth inning when Burger led off with a double and took third on a wild pitch. He then scored on a **Blake Rutherford** sacrifice fly. The game ended up going to extras and Charlotte threatened with a runner at third base with one out. On a short fly ball to right field, **Matt Reynolds** tried to test Díaz’ arm but was thrown out at the plate to keep the game going. Díaz recorded two outfield assists on the night.GONE! Brett Cumberland hits his 6th home run of the season on the first pitch in the 2nd.
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) June 29, 2021
...Sadly, Charlotte answered with two runs in the bottom-half themselves, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/j4pymSlv9N
Why put a runner on in extra innings when you have a cannon in right field named Yusniel Díaz?
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) June 30, 2021
We head to the 11th still tied 3-3. pic.twitter.com/hHE7RRaMvx
The Tides scored in the top of the 11th inning when Mejias-Brean hit a one-out go-ahead single to give Norfolk the advantage into the bottom half of the inning. Charlotte was able to respond with two out when Berger worked his magic again by hitting a game-tying single tie the game at 4-4. Burger reached base safely six times and a triple shy of the cycle, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and two walks.
Charlotte ended up taking the game on a sacrifice fly by Tim Beckham to score Zach Remillard, giving the Knights a 5-4 win in the series opener. Game two-of-six starts tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at Truist Field in Charlotte.