Norfolk Blasts Three Homers in Lopsided Defeat
Norfolk, Va. – On Star Wars night at Harbor Park, the force was strong with the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles). The Tides’ offense combined to slug 15 base hits and, for the second-straight night, all nine Tides’ batters added a hit as Norfolk thumped the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 14-6 Saturday night.
Zach Nuding received the start in the place of the recently promoted Alfredo Aceves and, after a 1-2-3 first inning, hit a wall in the second. The RailRiders jumped out early, scoring a run after Adonis Garcia reached on a single and came around on a base hit by Ronnier Mustelier give SWB the early lead, 1-0.
The advantage was short-lived as the Tides struck for two of its own runs in the second. Caleb Joseph started the inning with a double to left and came around to score on a single by Jonny Monnell, before a sacrifice fly by Cord Phelps plated the frames final run, pushing the lead to 2-1.
With the scored tied 2-2 heading to the home half of the third, the Tides’ offense found its rhythm, striking for a six-run third inning marred by seven singles and two RailRider miscues.
Facing a six-run deficit in the fourth, Xavier Paul and Brett Wallace highlighted the Tides’ offensive spectacle with back-to-back home runs, the first time the RailRiders pitching staff has allowed a team to hit consecutive home runs this season.
Cord Phelps led the fifth off with a home run to right for the third long ball of the game, marking the fifth home run Norfolk has added in the series. With the Tides leading 11-2, both clubs would go on to score three runs apiece en route to the lopsided 14-6 loss.
In his second start at the Triple-A level, Nuding (0-1) tossed three inning while being tagged for 10 runs in a 78-pitch losing effort while right-hander Time Alderson (1-2) tossed two scoreless inning to notch the win.
The two teams will conclude their four-game run Sunday, May 4 at 1:05 p.m. SWB sends right-hander Joel De La Cruz (NR) to the hill, while righty Suk-min Yoon (0-3, 5.24) takes the bump for the Tides. Aaron Berlin will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 12:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio – The GAME, Northeast PA’s largest sports radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. For season ticket information, single-game tickets or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
- Zach Nuding’s 10 runs allowed marked the most by a RailRider pitcher this season.
- The six-run sixth was the most runs allowed by SWB in a frame this season.
- Adonis Garcia went 3-for-4 and added 3RBI in the loss.
- The 15 base hits tie for the most hits allowed in a game this season by the RailRiders pitching staff.
– SWB RailRiders – All Aboard! –
