Blake Hunt had three hits, including a home run, Thursday night as the Norfolk Tides recovered from an early deficit and zoomed to a 9-3 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before 3,557 at PNC Field in Pennsylvania.
Hunt and Shayne Fontana each drove in two runs and scored twice for the Tides (32-28) in a game that was delayed 45 minutes because of rain. Heston Kjerstad had two hits and two RBIs, and Errol Robinson was 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs.
The RailRiders (35-25) scored three first-inning runs off 25-year-old right-hander Carlos Tavera, a 2021 fifth-round draft pick who was making his Triple-A debut after being called up from Double-A Bowie. Oswald Peraza doubled to left field, bringing home hot Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez, and Ben Rice followed with a two-run homer to right.
Tavera shook off the woes and went on to pitch 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and two walks while striking out five.
Winner Matt Krook (2-1), Nolan Hoffman and Kade Strowd combined to shut out the RailRiders for the last 4 2/3 innings on just two hits. Norfolk pitchers struck out 11.
Meanwhile, the Norfolk offense took scant time to overcome a 3-0 deficit. Fontana’s two-run single to center, part of a four-run third inning, put the Tides ahead to stay.
The Tides lead 2-1 in the six-game series, which will continue at 6:35 Friday night. The Tides plan to start Justin Armbruester (1-4, 9.70 ERA) against fellow right-hander Will Warren (3-4, 8.08).
