By Tiffany Williams –
After a rain delay in Worcester, Massachusetts, Thursday afternoon, the Norfolk Tides eventually played the WooSox and won 6-3.
Garrett Stallings, who last appeared for the Tides on May 16 at Harbor Park against Lehigh Valley, had his fourth start of the season on Thursday against Worcester going four innings throwing 82 pitches and 44 were strikes. Stallings allowed three hits, two runs, walked four, and struck out four.
Eddy Alvarez was Worcester’s first run of the fame in the bottom of the second to give Worcester a 0-1 lead.
Heston Kjerstad got the Tides into the game in the top of the fourth, connecting with a 94.1 mph four-seam fastball from Richard Fitts to earn his 13th homer of the season, and tie the game 1-1.
Worcester had their second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth with Pablo Reyes scoring, extending Worcester’s lead to 1-2.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth innings, Jackson Holiday in the top of the seventh connected a 91.1 mph cutter from Ryan Zeferjahn to earn his fifth homer of the season and 18th RBI of the season with Shayne Fontana also scoring to extend the Tides lead To 3-2.
Bottom of the seventh Jamie Westbrook connected with a 94.4 mph four-seam fastball, earning him his fourth homers of the season and making it a 3-3 tie game.
After a scoreless eighth inning, in the top of the ninth Billy Cook hit his seventh double of tge season and his 22 RBI of the season with on Heston Kjerstad scoring to extend the Tides lead to 4-3, and adding to the ninth inning runaway was Daniel Johnson who connected with an 85.6 mph cutter Lucas Luetge to earn his ninth homer of the season and 26th RBI with Billy Cook scoring putting the Tides on top 6-3.
Starting at the bump for Worcester Tuesday was Richard Fitts, who went five innings, throwing 83 pitches, and 50 were strikes. Fitts allowed three hits and gave up one run. He walked three and struck out three.
Norfolk and Worcester will meet again on Friday night for game four of this six-game series at Polar Park. Last season, the Tides won the series in Worcester 5-2. The Tides lead the all-time series against Worcester 343-293, dating back to 1973, when the Pawtucket Red Sox moved from Double-A.
Sports Insider Daily 