
Jacob Nottingham got the Tides on the board in the fourth, crushing a two-run shot to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. After the Knights evened up the ballgame in the fifth through solo shot from Seby Zavala, Robert Neustrom put Norfolk in front for good, blasting his team-leading sixth home run of the year, and his first grand slam of the season, to give the Tides a 6-2 lead.
Adley Rutschman homered for the second night in a row, launching an opposite-field two-run home run in the seventh, which proved to be the decisive hit in the contest, to make it an 8-4 game.
Charlotte mounted a late rally, scoring two runs in their half of the seventh and then pulled within a run when Zavala hit his second home run of the game in the eighth, a solo shot.
Rico Garcia, in his first appearance with the Tides this season, earned the save by working a scoreless ninth, sealing a second-straight victory.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow night for game three of this six-game set at Truist Field. RHP Denyi Reyes (0-1, 8.25) is scheduled to start for the Tides, while RHP Jhan Mariñez (0-1, 6.23) is tabbed to start for the Tides. First pitch slated for 7:04 p.m.