Bannon Stays Hot as Norfolk Routs Charlotte
The Norfolk Tides won game three of the series at Charlotte, 11-6, after recording a season-high 18 hits. Rylan Bannon was the star of the show yet again, boasting four hits including two home runs, six RBI and a stolen base. Bannon’s first homer scored the first run of the
The Norfolk Tides won game three of the series at Charlotte, 11-6, after recording a season-high 18 hits. Rylan Bannon was the star of the show yet again, boasting four hits including two home runs, six RBI and a stolen base.
Bannon’s first homer scored the first run of the game for Norfolk. With one out, he hit a solo home run in the second inning. Following Bannon was Kelvin Gutierrez, who went back-to-back with a home run himself to give Norfolk the, 2-0, lead in second. It was the third time this season the Tides have gone back-to-back and the first time since June 23.
Does @RBannon4 ever get bored of hitting home runs? Probably not, as he launched his 7th home run in his last seven games tonight!
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 20, 2021
Kelvin Gutierrez wanted whatever he was eating too, going back-to-back with Bannon on a home run himself! Tides up, 2-0, into the bottom of the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/wjBFOPOU7u
The Tides added two more in the third inning when Jahmai Jones hit a two-run homer. It was his second in as many days. Charlotte was able to respond with a solo homer themselves by Gavin Sheets in the bottom-half to cut the lead to 4-1, Norfolk.
Power is surging in Charlotte for the Tides! This time, it's @jamjones7 launching a two-run homer. It's his second in as many days. Norfolk now leads 4-0 in the 3rd inning. pic.twitter.com/ZVHTnMwR6j
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 20, 2021
Four more runs would cross for Norfolk in the fifth. The first run was scored on an RBI single by Tyler Nevin, which extended his hitting streak to seven games. Then Bannon launched his second homer of the night and his eighth in his last seven games, a three-run shot to extend the lead, 8-1, for the Tides. Bannon’s home run total is up to 12 now.
Well... this is getting ridiculous.@RBannon4 hits a three-run homer, his second of the night and his eighth in his last seven games. We're running out of things to say.
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 20, 2021
B5 | Norfolk 8, Charlotte 1 pic.twitter.com/nxKPWo3lln
The onslaught continued for Bannon in the sixth inning. The Tides were able to load the bases and with two outs, Bannon ripped a two-run single to left to give the Tides a, 10-1, lead. He finished the night 4-for-5 with two runs, two home runs, six RBI and a stolen base.
Tides starter Ofelky Peralta was stellar in his third straight win. He retired eight batters in a row before allowing a double to the last batter he faced. He finished with 5.2 innings pitched, allowing the one home run to Sheets, and gave up five total hits and one walk while striking out three. He threw a season-high 90 pitches, with 57 for strikes.
Charlotte gained two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Tides lead to 10-3. Both the runs were unearned after the final out of the inning was botched on an error by Yusniel Diaz. Runners would end up on second and third with two outs and both scored on a single by Sheets. They added three more runs in the bottom in the eighth, starting on an RBI double by Micker Adolfo. Then Matt Reynolds followed with a three-run homer, cutting the lead to, 10-6, for Norfolk.
With a position player pitching for Charlotte, Norfolk scored one more run on an RBI single by Ryan McKenna in the top of the ninth to make the final score, 11-6. The Tides had a season-high 18 hits, the most they’ve hit in a nine-inning game since they had 20 on May 4, 2019 vs. Charlotte. The Tides play game four of the series tomorrow night at 7:04 p.m. in Charlotte. LHP Alex Wells (6-3, 3.78) will start for the Tides while Charlotte will have a bullpen day.