STAFF REPORTS
The Norfolk Tides defeated the Rochester Red Wings 7-2 Friday night at Frontier Field. The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. (gates open early at 5:30 p.m.) with post-game fireworks and an appearance by the Zooperstars!
Both starting pitchers looked impressive to begin the game, as it remained scoreless through three innings. Red Wings starter David Hurlbut struck out three through the first three frames while Norfolk starter Tyler Wilson allowed no hits and faced one above the minimum.
Rochester had a chance to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning after a Mitch Garver double put a runner in scoring position for the first time in the game. Garver was left stranded after Daniel Palka lined out sharply to second base.
After two singles to lead off the top of the seventh inning, Norfolk recorded the first run of the game on a Logan Schafer RBI single, giving the Tides a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the eighth inning, Hurlbut allowed a pair of singles, struck out Pedro Alvarez, then was lifted in favor of Jake Reed. Chance Sisco singled off Reed, and Palka threw out Chris Johnson at home trying to score for the second out. Reed got into a based loaded jam, and Mike Yastrzemski drilled a 3-2 pitch over Palka’s head in right field to clear the bases and put the Tides up 4-0. Another single added a fifth run to the Tides’ score.
Hurlbut worked 7.1 innings and allowed a season-high 10 hits, two runs and a walk, while striking out eight. Hurlbut threw 101 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Wilson took the mound again in the bottom of the eighth, and set down the Wings in order to cap a brilliant start in which he allowed two hits and a walk over eight innings with six strikeouts. He threw 96 pitches, 66 for strikes.
The Tides scored two runs off Luke Bard in the ninth to finish their scoring. Palka’s RBI double off Donnie Hart in the bottom of the ninth broke got the Wings on the board and broke up the shutout, and Matt Hague added an RBI sac fly.
