Tides take tough loss to Jacksonville in extras, 5-4
Stellar performances by Tides second baseman Wilbis Santiago, who ripped a game-tying triple and collected two hits in his Triple-A debut, and relief pitcher Mickey Jannis, who twirled five perfect innings out of the bullpen, weren’t enough to keep the Tides from falling to Jacksonville by a 5-4 score in
Stellar performances by Tides second baseman Wilbis Santiago, who ripped a game-tying triple and collected two hits in his Triple-A debut, and relief pitcher Mickey Jannis, who twirled five perfect innings out of the bullpen, weren’t enough to keep the Tides from falling to Jacksonville by a 5-4 score in extra innings.
The Tides (3-12) scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first for the second straight game. Right fielder Tyler Nevin reached on a fielder’s choice and scored when catcher Brett Cumberland blasted a long two-run home run into the left field party deck.
Norfolk starter Alex Wells worked 4.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out two. All four runs credited to Wells scored in the top of the fourth on a pair of Jumbo Shrimp home runs: a solo shot by right fielder Jesus Sanchez and a three-run homer by shortstop Luis Marte. Wells threw 48 of his 72 pitches for strikes.
With the Tides down 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, designated hitter Austin Wynns launched another home run into the party deck to bring Norfolk within a run. The Tides tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, as Santiago smashed a two-out RBI triple into the gap in right-center field that scored Ryan Ripken all the way from first base.
Jannis (5.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R/0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) was perfect in his third appearance in a Tides uniform. The 33-year-old knuckleballer kept Jacksonville off the scoreboard until the tenth inning, when extra-innings courtesy runner Corey Bird came around to score on a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly, giving the Shrimp a 5-4 lead.
The Tides were unable to bring their runner around to score in the bottom half of the inning. Tyler Nevin flew out to right, Brett Cumberland struck out swinging and Seth Mejias-Brean lifted a fly ball that Jacksonville’s Brian Miller caught in left field to seal Norfolk’s fate.
Santiago, Cumberland, Wynns and shortstop Mason McCoy each recorded two hits for Norfolk.
The Tides square off against Jacksonville (11-4) once again on Friday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.