Tides walk-off with fifth straight win
Chris Robinson plated Trayvon Robinson with a two-out single in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Norfolk to a 6-5 win over the Toledo Mud Hens Monday night at Harbor Park.
With the score knotted at 5-5, Travis Ishikawa opened the 11th frame with a long double to centerfield off of Jess Todd (0-1). Trayvon Robinson came in to pinch run, and after a flyout by Yamaico Navarro, Jonathan Schoop was intentionally walked. Lew Ford then grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on first and third, and Chris Robinson followed by lining the first pitch he saw into right field to give the Tides their fifth straight win.
Norfolk has now won seven of its last eight games, and the Tides have defeated Toledo in nine straight contests dating back to last season.
The Tides belted three solo home runs in the win, as Jason Pridie, Danny Valencia and Russ Canzler all connected off of Hens starter Shawn Hill. Canzler, who has a team-leading five home runs this season, homered for the second consecutive contest.
Tides starter Steve Johnson was impressive in his second rehab start, although he did not factor in the decision. Johnson, who opened the year on the disabled list with a right lat strain, allowed two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work, walking two and striking out eight. The 25-year-old right-hander departed with a 5-2 lead, but Toledo knotted the score at 5-5 after plating three runs in the eighth inning off of Norfolk's bullpen.
Adam Russell (2-0) earned the win by striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief.
The Tides will look for the four-game sweep Tuesday afternoon at Harbor Park, with first pitch set for 12:05. Josh Stinson (1-0, 0.77) will make his first start for Norfolk since being optioned from Baltimore and will be opposed by right-hander Derek Hankins, who is making his season debut with the Mud Hens.
Tides Tidbits: The Tides have not swept a four-game set from Toledo at Harbor Park since the 2003 season…Norfolk improved to 11-2 when scoring first…Chris Jones made his Triple-A debut, allowing three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of relief…Jonathan Schoop had his 10-game hitting streak snapped…Chris Robinson had two hits and has now hit safely in five straight games…The Tides (16-9) are now a season-high seven games over the .500 mark.