The Norfolk Tides ended a three-game slide by erasing a six-run deficit Friday night, beating Gwinnett 7-6 before 9,253 fans, one of Harbor Park’s bigger crowds of the year.
Connor Norby tripled home three Norfolk teammates in the bottom of the fourth, and those ended up being the night’s last runs.
Eli White’s two-run homer in the first and Luke Williams’ three-run double to center in the third put the Stripers ahead 5-0, and Williams scored their final run on Ramon Laureano’s sacrifice fly.
All of those runs came in three innings off left-hander Cade Povich, who was unusually ineffective as his earned-run average climbed to 3.18.
But the Tides’ bullpen held the Stripers (26-29) to two hits in the final six innings. Nolan Hoffman (3-1) pitched the fourth and fifth for the victory, and Nick Vespi, Kade Strowd, Matt Krook and Bryan Baker worked one inning apiece.
Meanwhile, Norfolk (29-26) quickly climbed from its 6-0 hole against a team that had won the series’ previous three games. Jackson Holliday doubled home Terrin Vavra and Hudson Haskin in the third, and the Tides went ahead to stay with a five-run fifth.
Daniel Johnson pounded a solo home run, Vavra doubled home Maverick Handley and Norby’s fly to right brought in Vavra, Haskin and Holliday.
Six of those runs were charged to Gwinnett starter Darius Vines, though reliever Ben Bowden (1-1) took the loss.
The series continues with Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. game. Justin Armbruester (1-3, 9.32) is scheduled to be on the mound for Norfolk against Bryce Elder (2-1, 5.23), who has been starting occasionally for Atlanta this year, in a clash of right-handers.
