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Bruce Zimmermann, shown with the Baltimore Orioles, gave up eight hits in four innings for Norfolk on Saturday but yielded just one run to the Memphis Redbirds.
Bruce Zimmermann, shown with the Baltimore Orioles, gave up eight hits in four innings for Norfolk on Saturday but yielded just one run to the Memphis Redbirds.
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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.

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