Tides Snap Skid, Split Doubleheader Against Gwinnett Wednesday

Pitcher Konner Wade threw six excellent innings in game one and right fielder Robert Neustrom hit his first Triple-A home run in game two, helping the Tides end an eight-game losing streak and split a doubleheader against the Gwinnett Stripers on Wednesday afternoon in Georgia.

Wednesday’s doubleheader, like all Minor League doubleheaders since 2018, was played in the form of two seven-inning games.

GAME ONE:

Tides starter Konner Wade tossed six strong innings, first baseman JC Escarra homered for the second straight day and the Tides squeaked out a 2-1 victory in game one.

Wade (6.0IP, 4H, 1R, 1BB, 3K) made his third start of the year, matching a personal season high with six innings thrown. He did not give up a hit until the fourth inning and allowed just two baserunners to advance past second base. The 29-year-old righty, who made his MLB debut with Baltimore in June, has not given up more than one run in a Triple-A game since June 9 – a span of six appearances (one start) and 20.0 innings pitched.

Escarra got the Tides on the board in the top of the second inning, as he ripped a line drive over the wall in right field for a solo homer. However, Gwinnett tied the game in the fourth inning on a solo blast from center fielder Cristian Pache, the No. 1 prospect in the Atlanta system.

With the game knotted at one run apiece in the top of the sixth, Norfolk center fielder Zach Jarrett led off the inning with a double. He then advanced to third on a fly out off the bat of second baseman Jahmai Jones. After Gwinnett starter Kyle Wright (6.0IP, 4H, 2R, 3BB, 5K) bounced back to strike out Tyler Nevin for the second out, he unleashed a wild pitch that skipped to the backstop and allowed Jarrett to sprint home with the go-ahead run.

Norfolk closer Dusten Knight earned the save with another scoreless outing, his 19th such appearance in 20 games out of the bullpen this season. Knight worked around three hits to do so, getting help from a 6-4-3 double play, but managed to seal the Tides’ win nonetheless.

GAME TWO:

Right fielder Robert Neustrom hit his first Triple-A homer and drove in two runs, but the Tides dropped game two by a 4-3 score.

Norfolk scored runs in each of the first two innings to grab a quick 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the first, Neustrom worked the third Tides walk of the inning to force home a run. A sacrifice fly from designated hitter Stevie Wilkerson in the top of the second scored Escarra and gave the Tides a two-run lead.

The Stripers answered in the bottom of the third with two runs of their own, highlighted by a pair of run-scoring doubles. With game two still tied in the fourth inning, Gwinnett catcher William Contreras homered to center field to give his club its first advantage of the day. The second home run of the afternoon by Gwinnett’s Cristian Pache, this one in the fifth inning of game two, made it a 4-2 game.

Neustrom launched a home run to right field in the top of the sixth to bring Norfolk within one run, but the Tides’ offense was shut down the rest of the way. Stripers reliever A.J. Minter earned his first save of the year after throwing a scoreless seventh inning.

Right-hander Kyle Bradish (4.0IP, 4H, 3R, 1BB, 7K) started for the Tides in game two, striking out seven over four innings. Bradish entered the game ranking second among Orioles minor leaguers in strikeouts. As of the conclusion of Wednesday’s games, the 24-year-old’s 79 punchouts trailed only top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez (97) for the most in the organization.

The Tides (25-39) and Stripers (33-35) will square off again on Thursday night. Southpaw Kevin Smith will take the hill for Norfolk, while righty Jasseel De La Cruz is expected to start for Gwinnett.