Tides roll Charlotte behind Hays, Eshelman
Austin Hays had three hits and two RBI to lead a 14-hit attack as the Tides rolled to an 11-2 win over the Charlotte Knights Sunday night at Harbor Park.
Hays singled in the first, doubled and scored in the fourth, then doubled home a pair of runs during a six-run fifth to help the Tides win for the third time in the last four contests. The 24-year-old outfielder, who is ranked as the #6 prospect in the Orioles system, has now hit safely in 23 of his last 27 games, batting .309 with five home runs, three doubles and 11 RBI over that stretch.
This two-run double from @TheAustinHaysss sparked a six-run fifth frame#TidalTown #Birdland pic.twitter.com/qMxpXU8zZC
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) September 2, 2019
Every Tides starter hit safely in the contest, while eight different Norfolk players registered an RBI.
Norfolk starter
With the loss, Charlotte dropped into a tie with Durham atop the International League Wild Card standings heading into Monday's season finale. Durham holds the tiebreaker, so Charlotte needs to win on Monday and have Durham lose vs. Gwinnett to advance to the International League postseason.
The Tides will conclude their season on Monday afternoon at Harbor Park, with first pitch set for 1:05.
Notes: The Tides wore their Pajaritos de Norfolk uniforms as part of Minor League Baseball's Copa de la Diversion…Mason Williams has hit safely in 47 of his last 56 games…Norfolk doubled six times in the contest, upping the season total to 268 doubles this season - just two shy of matching the franchise record of 270 set during the 2005 season…Norfolk is 18-11 since August 1st.