The Memphis Redbirds evened their series against Norfolk on Wednesday night in Tennessee, beating the Tides 7-2 before 1,877 at AutoZone Park.
The teams each have won once so far in the six-game International League set, which will continue at 8:05 Thursday night.
Starters Michael McGreevy (5-7) and Bruce Zimmermann (2-4) were pitching shutouts until the fifth inning, when Memphis (46-43, 8-6 in the season’s second half) erupted for four runs.
Former Tide César Prieto singled, went to second on Thomas Saggese’s walk and scored on José Fermín’s single, though Norfolk (41-47, 5-8) got Fermín out in a rundown. Former Old Dominion star Jared Young doubled home Saggese, and Tides manager Buck Britton went to the bullpen after two Zimmermann walks loaded the bases.
Jordan Walker greeted reliever Vinny Nattoli with a two-run single to center, putting the Redbirds ahead 4-0.
The Tides replied with back-to-back solo home runs by Kyle Stowers and Coby Mayo in the sixth, pulling to 4-2. It was Stowers’ 17th Triple-A home run of the year and Mayo’s team-high 19th.
Doubles by Young and Walker off reliever Corbin Martin in the seventh made it 5-2, and Prieto’s RBI triple and Fermín’s sacrifice fly in the eighth off Luis González provided the final margin.
Relievers Victor Santos, Nick Robertson (a former James Madison pitcher) and Andre Granillo blanked the Tides in the final 3 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Justin Armbruester (1-6, 8.23) is scheduled to pitch Thursday for the Tides.
Orioles promote Smith, send Tate to Tides
The Orioles selected the contract of veteran reliever Burch Smith on Thursday and optioned right-hander Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk.
Smith, 34, signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles on June 27 after being released by the Miami Marlins a week before. The right-hander, who has pitched in Japan and South Korea in addition to parts of six MLB seasons, appeared in 25 games for Miami this year and posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.62 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) with 23 strikeouts over 29 2/3 innings. With Norfolk, he appeared in two games and threw two scoreless innings.
The move comes amid a tough stretch for the Orioles’ bullpen. Baltimore’s relievers have combined for a 6.07 ERA in July, fifth-worst in baseball over that span.
Tate, 30, has struggled of late, allowing 11 earned runs over his past nine appearances dating to June 21. On the season, he has a 4.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, both of which are the worst among the Orioles’ relievers with at least 20 appearances. This will be the second time he’s been optioned to the Tides this year.
