Offensive Surge Powers Tides to Win
ALLENTOWN, P.A. --- The Norfolk Tides (36-38) fell to the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs (33-39), 14-8, on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Tides combined for three home runs, highlighted by a grand slam by Kyle Stowers to kickstart a seven-run fifth inning to key Norfolk to their first win of
ALLENTOWN, P.A. --- The Norfolk Tides (36-38) fell to the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs (33-39), 14-8, on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Tides combined for three home runs, highlighted by a grand slam by Kyle Stowers to kickstart a seven-run fifth inning to key Norfolk to their first win of the series against the Ironpigs.
Norfolk struck first Saturday night, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Heston Kjerstad launched a two-run home run, his team-leading 16th of the season. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Lehigh Valley plated five runners thanks to two home runs and an RBI double from Buddy Kennedy.
Following three scoreless frames, Connor Norby led off the top of the fifth with a walk, and Kjerstad and Coby Mayo followed with walks to load the bases. Then on the first pitch he saw, Kyle Stowers launched a grand slam, his 12th home run of the season, to give Norfolk a 6-5 lead. The Tides quickly reloaded the bases, and tacked on another run when Norby walked to make it 7-5.
Kjerstad continued the offensive onslaught with an RBI single to bring home Hudson Haskin for the seventh run of the inning to give Norfolk a 9-5 advantage. After a rain delay midway through the top of the sixth, Maverick Handley immediately came back with a sacrifice fly out to give Norfolk a 10-5 lead. Then, Norby launched the first pitch he saw over the centerfield wall for a three-run home run, his 11th of the season, to give the Tides a 13-5 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, Stowers led off with a walk. The next batter, Billy Cook, roped an RBI double that bounced off the right-center field wall to score Stowers and give Norfolk a 14-5 lead. The Ironpigs added back three runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 14-8 Tides, but were shut down in the ninth by Morgan McSweeney to seal Norfolk’s first win of the series.
The Tides will take on the Ironpigs tomorrow night in the fifth game of their six-game series. The Tides will start LHP Tucker Davidson (1-2, 2.74), while RHP Mick Abel (1-7, 6.93) will take the mound for Lehigh Valley. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
Stowers Power: Kyle Stowers was one of three Tides hitters tonight to collect a home run, as he finished 2-for-5 with a double, a grand slam, four RBI and two runs in the win...the long ball marked his 51st of his Triple-A career with the Tides...he is now in sole possession of second place on the Tides all-time home run list, one behind Gary Rajsich.
Cheddar Kjerstad: Heston Kjerstad led off last night’s win with a two-run home run in the first inning as part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate where he added four RBI and two runs...this season, he leads the International League in RBI (58) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.601) and OPS (.991).