Tides Force Extras But Lose On Game-Winning Homer

NORFOLK, VA --- The Norfolk Tides (81-52) fell to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (66-67), 9-7, in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Harbor Park. The Tides now find themselves on a three-game losing streak after winning five straight prior.

Jacksonville scored first again tonight when Jerar Encarnacion knocked an RBI single in the second inning. They scored again in the fourth when Brian Miller knocked a two-run single to put the Jumbo Shrimp up, 3-0. Those would be the only runs Tides starter John Means allowed. He lasted 5.0 innings, allowing the three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. He also induced two double plays.

Means exited as the winning pitcher of record after the Tides scored a run in the fourth, then a four-spot in the fifth. Shayne Fontana broke the shutout in the fourth with an RBI single. In the fifth, Lewin Díaz knocked in the first two runs on a single. Josh Lester followed him with an RBI single to put runners on first and third. Fontana came through again in the fifth on a sac fly to right field, putting the Tides up 5-3.

The Jumbo Shrimp came right back with three runs in the sixth and retook the lead. Their first run crossed after a runner scored from second on a single, then an error in the outfield. Brian Miller knocked in the tying run on an RBI single. The go-ahead run scored on an RBI double by C.J. Hinojosa to put them up 6-5. One more run would score for Jacksonville in the seventh when Peyton Burdick knocked a sac fly to center to go up 7-5.

The Tides chipped away in the eighth when Colton Cowser bounced an RBI double down the right field line to score Jackson Holliday from first to make it a 7-6 game. In the ninth with two outs, Josh Lester extended the game after launching a game-tying solo home run. However in the 10th, Encarnacion came up clutch for Jacksonville with a two-run homer to put the final score at 9-7.

Game three of the series is set for tomorrow, with first pitch at 12:05 p.m. after a quick turnaround. The Tides are scheduled to throw RHP Garrett Stallings (5-4, 6.51), while Jacksonville’s probable is RHP Jeff Lindgren (6-5, 5.26).

POSTGAME NOTES

Norby Knocks: Leading all batters in hits tonight was Connor Norby, who went 4-for-5 with a run, a double and a walk...it was his 43rd multi-hit game, including his second four-hit game (May 26 at Memphis)...Norby reached 150 hits on the season, becoming the fourth Tide in Orioles affiliate history to reach that mark...the double was his 37th of the season, good for fifth all-time in franchise history...the run marked his 95th of the season, tying him with Pepe Mangual (1977) for third-most in a single season in franchise history.

Lewin Lays In: Staying hot was Lewin Díaz, who went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI...it was his 27th multi-hit game...he hasn’t gone back-to-back games without a hit since July 26, hitting safely in 22-of-28 games...in that span, he’s hitting .337 (34-for-101) with 13 runs, eight doubles, four home runs, 15 RBI and nine walks.

John Means Business: Making his third MLB rehab start for the Tides tonight was John Means...He lasted 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four and induced two double plays...it was the lowest pitch count of the three starts so far, tossing 67 pitches.