Tides swept in Wednesday twinbill
The Indianapolis Indians plated two runs in the top of the 10th inning, knocking off the Tides 5-3 in game two of a doubleheader Wednesday night at Harbor Park. Indianapolis rolled past Norfolk in game one, 8-1.
With the score knotted at 3-3, Brett Carroll worked a one-out walk off of Andy Loomis (2-1) to start the decisive rally. Pinch-hitter Tony Sanchez then doubled off the base of the centerfield wall, and Carroll beat the relay throw home to give the Indians the lead. Lucas May followed with a single to right field off of Adam Russell, extending Indy's lead to two.
Norfolk put its first two batters on to start the 10th inning, but Indians closer Erik Cordier got Zelous Wheeler to ground into a double play before striking out Brandon Waring to wrap up the doubleheader sweep.
The runs charged against Loomis were the first earned runs the left-hander had allowed since May 14, snapping a 19.0 consecutive scoreless innings streak.
Russ Canzler hit a first inning two-run homer to power Norfolk's offense.
In game one, the Indians jumped out to an early lead against Kevin Gausman and got an outstanding pitching performance from Jeanmar Gomez to cruise to an 8-1 victory.
Gausman (0-1) struggled in his Triple-A debut, yielding seven runs on 10 hits in his first outing since being optioned to Norfolk from Baltimore. After surrendering two runs in the first, Gausman retired eight of nine before allowing runs in both the fourth and fifth frames. Then in the sixth, the 22-year-old walked the first two batters of the frame before Andrew Lambo connected on a three-run homer, extending the lead to 7-0.
Gomez (1-0), who was making his second rehab appearance with the Tribe after being placed on Pittsburgh's disabled list with right forearm inflammation, did not allow a hit over five shutout innings. The 25-year-old right-hander walked one, hit a batter and struck out four while needing just 52 pitches to navigate his outing.
The Tides ended the no-hit bid in the sixth inning in peculiar fashion. Jose Contreras came in to relieve Gomez, and Brandon Wood led off the inning by reaching base safely on an error. Jason Pridie followed with a sharp ground ball between first and second that deflected off of Wood, which by rule was scored as a single for Pridie, ending the no-hit bid.
Norfolk got its second hit of the contest and its lone run in the seventh, as Buck Britton belted a leadoff solo home run into the right field party deck.
The Tides face a quick turnaround as they wrap up their homestand Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park, with first pitch slated for 12:05. Norfolk sends right-hander Josh Stinson (3-3, 4.78) to the hill against left-hander Kris Johnson (5-3, 3.07).
Notes: Norfolk has now lost a season-high eight straight games…The doubleheader was Norfolk's second in five days, and the Tides have another doubleheader scheduled Saturday afternoon at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre…Buck Britton hit safely in both games of the twinbill to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games…The Tides went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position during the twinbill and are now 2-for-35 with runners in scoring position over the first seven games of the homestand.