Yielding two home runs and stranding nine runners on base proved costly for Norfolk as the Gwinnett Stripers defeated the Tides 7-2 before 4,491 on a beautiful Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park. The Tides (28-26) had just three hits and lost their third game in a row — all to the Stripers, Atlanta’s top affiliate, who have clinched at least a split of a six-game series that continues at 6:35 p.m.
Friday. In the last two games, Norfolk has had just seven hits. Gwinnett (26-28) went ahead 1-0 in the second inning when Luke Waddell laced a double to right field, bringing home Alejo Lopez.
In the third, Andrew Velazquez bunted for a single before designated hitter David Fletcher grounded a single to left. Luke Williams then blasted a three-run homer into the picnic area beyond left-center field for a 4-0 Stripers edge off Tides pitcher Tucker Davidson, whose career began in the Atlanta organization — he started Game 5 against Houston in the 2021 World Series. The Tides rallied in the fifth to cut their deficit to 4-2, even after Jackson Holliday grounded into a double play with two on and none out.
Shayne Fontana scored on a Taylor Widener wild pitch, and Nick Maton singled home Heston Kjerstad. Skye Bolt singled home Eli White in the sixth for a 5-2 edge, and White slugged a two-run homer in the seventh to make it 7-2. Widener (3-2) gained the victory by holding the Tides to one hit in 3 1/3 innings.
He was relieving Allan Winans, who walked seven, struck out six and gave .
