Andre Pallante pitched five strong innings and Thomas Saggese and Luken Baker each hit solo homers as the Memphis Redbirds edged the Norfolk Tides 3-2 Saturday afternoon before 4,593 fans at AutoZone Park in Tennessee.
The Tides (19-19) still lead the series 3-2. They have scored 37 runs in the five games. The finale is set for 2:05 p.m. Sunday.
Pallante, who has made 118 appearances in the majors, allowed a run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He has a 1.50 ERA in three appearances with Memphis. Reliever Alex Cornwell (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings for the victory, and Ryan Loutos picked up his fourth save after allowing a run in two innings.
Redbirds pitchers limited Norfolk to six hits, including five singles.
The Tides scored single runs in the third and eighth innings. Errol Robinson grounded into a double play to score Shayne Fontana in the third, and Nick Maton hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
After Saggese’s solo homer tied it at 1 in the bottom of the third, Nick Raposo put the Redbirds (19-18) ahead to stay with an RBI single in the sixth. Baker’s homer, his seventh of the season, made it 3-1 in the seventh inning.
Fontana drew a leadoff walk to start the top of the ninth and bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate, but Michael Perez grounded into a double play and Robinson struck out to end it.
Norfolk starter Bruce Zimmermann gave up a run on eight hits in four innings. Nick Vespi (1-1) allowed the other two runs in three innings.
