On a Sunday afternoon Heston Kjerstad won’t forget, the Norfolk Tides ended the International League’s first half in disappointing fashion. They squandered a five-run lead in a 7-6 loss to Lehigh Valley before 8,110 at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Tides finished the first half 36-39, losing five of six in the series to the IronPigs (34-39).
Norfolk will open the second half at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Harbor Park against Charlotte on Turn Back the Clock Night.
Kjerstad’s day was rare if not unprecedented. One of the IL’s top players was ejected in the third inning after being hit by three pitches — comprising all of his plate appearances — by Lehigh Valley starter David Parkinson and reacting enough to be thrown out by plate umpire Pete Talkington. Two of those pitches came in that third inning, in which Norfolk scored all of its runs.
Kjerstad was plunked in the first inning, when Parkinson escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam with a double play and a strikeout. Parkinson hit Shayne Fontana in the second inning but got an inning-ending double play. In the third, Kjerstad reached base in between Connor Norby’s single and Coby Mayo’s walk.
Billy Cook then belted a grand slam to left field to put the Tides ahead 4-1. Norby’s run was his 162nd all-time as a Tide, breaking L.J.
Hoes’ record for Norfolk in its era as a Baltimore affiliate, which began in 2007. Noelberth Romero’s single to left and Norby’s sacrifice fly to right drove in Norfol.
