Cowser's Homer Lifts Tides to Victory

NORFOLK, VA --- The Norfolk Tides (85-54) defeated the Memphis Redbirds (66-74), 3-2, on Wednesday night at Harbor Park. It was a pitcher’s duel where the main difference was a Tides home run to clinch the first win of the week for Norfolk.

The first run crossed for Norfolk in the bottom of the first. With runners on first and second, Coby Mayo hit a ground ball to the shortstop which had potential for a 6-4-3 double play. After Memphis completed the 6-4 fielder’s choice, the second baseman threw the ball wide to allow the runner from second to score and made it a 1-0 game.

Memphis immediately responded with a run in the top half of the second. With no one on and two outs, Matt Koperniak launched a solo home run over the party deck and right field to make it a 1-1 game. That was the only run Tides starter Austin Voth allowed. He lasted 2.0 innings, allowing two hits, including the solo home run, with no walks and two strikeouts.

The Tides were able to get that run back immediate in the third when Colton Cowser blasted a solo home run himself to take the lead. They would score again in the seventh, where Josh Lester knocked an RBI single to put the Tides up, 3-1.

The Redbirds couldn’t score thanks to another stellar outing by Garrett Stallings, who served as the follower to Voth. He entered in the third inning and would finish the game from there. He only allowed one run, which was a solo blast by Juan Yepez in the ninth inning. But that would be all, as Stalling finished with 7.0 innings pitched. He gave up three hits, including the solo home run, and walked one while striking out six on the way to his seventh victory of the season.

It will be a quick turnaround for both teams, with first pitch tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. . Scheduled to take the hill for the Tides is LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4-6, 3.49) while RHP Adam Kloffenstein (2-0, 2.17) will toe the rubber for the Redbirds.

POSTGAME NOTES

Holy Cowser: Hitting his 15th home run of the season tonight was Colton Cowser, who finished 1-for-4 with a walk...it was a go-ahead home run, his 10th of the season...one of his other homers this season was game-tying...the home run also led off the third inning, the eighth time he’s led an inning off with a dinger.

Stellar Stallings: Tides follower Garrett Stallings went 7.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits (one home run) and one walk while striking out six...he’s recorded back-to-back outings with at least 6.0 innings pitched, one run allowed and at least seven strikeouts...in the month of September, Stallings is 2-0 with a save and 2.12 ERA (2 ER, 17.0 IP) with 20 strikeouts to four walks.

Just Joshin’: Earning his 700th Minor League hit of his career was Josh Lester, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI...the RBI was his 83rd of the season, which leads the Tides and is tied for sixth in the International League...the RBI also tied Ryan Mountcastle (2019) for the fourth-most RBI in a single season in Orioles affiliate franchise history.