Shutout Puts Norfolk Back in Win Column

NORFOLK, Va --- The Norfolk Tides (21-22) defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (16-24), 4-0, on Friday night at Harbor Park. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Tides and salvages the opportunity to split the six-game series.

The first run crossed for the Tides in the first. IronPigs starter Mick Abel walked three batters, then gave up an RBI single to Maverick Handley. Norfolk wouldn’t score again until the fifth, when Heston Kjerstad hit a sacrifice fly and Billy Cook followed with an RBI double to go up 3-0.

Abel, the third ranked prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and the 63rd ranked prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com, would leave the game after tossing a quality start against the Tides. He gave up the three runs.

The Tides pitching staff out dueled Abel with a bullpen game, however. Tucker Davidson made the start for the Tides and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Corbin Martin made his organizational debut and followed with a scoreless inning. Luis González had the highest strikeout total of the Tides staff with four after 2.0 innings. Dillon Tate, Matt Krook and Wandisson Charles finished the job with scoreless innings themselves to complete the shutout.

The final run scored by the Tides came in the seventh inning when Connor Norby singled, then Cook knocked him in on an RBI double to finalize the score at 4-0. Game five of the series is set to start at 6:35 p.m. tomorrow night. LHP Cade Povich (4-1, 2.16) is set to start for Norfolk while RHP Ricardo Pinto (0-0, 0.00) will start for Lehigh Valley.

POSTGAME NOTES

Norby Knocks: Leading the Tides offense tonight was Connor Norby, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and two doubles...it was his first game played since May 10 at Memphis...it was his fourth game this season with at least three hits, but his first with two doubles...he’s extended his hitting streak to six games, hitting .476 (10-for-21) with seven runs, four doubles, a home runb, three RBI and five walks while slashing .577/.810/1.387...Norby now has 53 doubles in his Tides career, moving him tied for seventh in Orioles affiliate franchise history with Rhyne Hughes, and passed L.J. Hoes (52) tonight.

Stay Cookin’: Staying hot today was Billy Cook, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI doubles...it was his sixth multi-hit effort this season and his first with two doubles...he’s hit safely in seven of his previous eight games since May 9, hitting .393 (11-for-28) with four runs, five doubles, a triple, a home run, eight RBI and five walks while slashing .485/.750/1.235.

Handley Handles: Going 2-for-4 with an RBI tonight was Maverick Handley...it was his sixth multi-hit effort of the season...Handley has hit safely in five of his previous seven games, hitting .304 (7-for-23) with four runs, two doubles a home run and three RBI...he’s had an RBI in three of his previous four games.

Maton Madness: Going 1-for-3 with a run and a walk was Nick Maton...he’s been very effective against right-handed pitching today, hitting .375 (14-for-40) with two doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI while slashing .449/.575/1.024.

The ‘Pen is Mightier: Tucker Davidson made the start for the Tides and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Corbin Martin made his organizational debut and followed with a scoreless inning. Luis González had the highest strikeout total of the Tides staff with four after 2.0 innings. Dillon Tate, Matt Krook and Wandisson Charles finished the job with scoreless innings themselves to complete the shutout.