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Norfolk Tides close out first half with 3-2 loss to Nashville Sounds on Sunday

Chris Graham

norfolk tides The Norfolk Tides (48-26) fell to the Nashville Sounds (40-34), 3-2, on Sunday at First Horizon Park.

Nashville, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, scored right off the bat in the first inning. Skye Bolt hit a triple on a fly ball that should have been caught, then scored on a Brice Turang RBI double.

The Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, were able to get that run back in the third inning. Ramón Rodríguez and Maverick Handley singled to put runners on first and second. Rodríguez advanced to third on a fly out, then scored on a Nashville fielding error to tie the game at 1-1.

The tie broke in the fourth inning when Josh VanMeter launched his third home run of the season for Nashville. Tides starter, Garrett Stallings, would pitch into the sixth inning getting one out. After allowing two singles, he was relieved with one of the inherited runners scored to put the Sounds up, 3-1.

The Chesapeake native and Grassfield High School alum would end up earning the loss in his Triple-A debut. He went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits (one home run), a hit batter, two walks and three strikeouts. Stallings threw 75 pitches, 45 for strikes.

The Tides had opportunities in the eighth and ninth to mount comeback attempts. The failed to score in the eighth leaving two runners in scoring position. In the ninth, Lewin Díaz and Rodríguez led off with singles. Colton Cowser pinch-ran for Rodríguez and both runners advanced on a sac bunt. Handley knocked an RBI infield single to put runners on first and third with one out. However, Norfolk grounded into a double play to end the game in a 3-2 loss.

With the league first half ending today, the league has scheduled off days on Monday and Tuesday.

Norfolk will then host Charlotte for a six-game series. The series will feature three straight fireworks games from July 1-3.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].