NORFOLK, Virginia – A pair of two-run homers by Creed Willems and Luis Vazquez in the eighth inning propelled the Norfolk Tides (14-27, 42-74) past the Gwinnett Stripers (21-22, 59-58) 6-2 on Friday night at Harbor Park. Norfolk leads the series 3-1.
Decisive Plays: Former Tide Maverick Handley staked the Stripers to a 2-0 lead in the second inning as he sent a two-run homer (1) out to the left-field picnic pavilion. Norfolk tied it at 2-2 with a homer of their own in the third, a two-run shot to left-center by Heston Kjerstad (11). The 2-2 tie held until the bottom of the eighth, when both Willems (16) and Vazquez (6) belted two-run shots to center field off Hayden Harris (L, 6-4) to put the Tides up 6-2.
Key Contributors: Stripers’ starter JR Ritchie threw 5.0 innings (3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) in a no-decision. Handley (2-for-4, homer, 2 RBIs) drove in both Gwinnett runs. Kjerstad (2-for-4, homer, 2 RBIs), Willems (1-for-3, homer, 2 RBIs), and Vazquez (1-for-3, homer, 2 RBIs) all went deep for Norfolk. Nick Raquet (W, 5-1) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings to finish the game.
Noteworthy: All four games of the series have been decided in the last at-bat. At 40 years, four months, and seven days, Carlos Santana (3-for-4) is now the fourth oldest player in Gwinnett history (surpassing pitcher Takashi Saito of the 2010 G-Braves). Patrick Clohisy went 0-for-4, marking just the fourth time he has not reached base in 27 games with a plate appearance for the Stripers. He did make a diving catch in center field in the second behind Ritchie, robbing Sam Huff of an extra-base hit and multiple RBIs.
Next Game (Saturday, August 15): Gwinnett Stripers at Norfolk Tides, 6:35 p.m. ET at Harbor Park. Radio Broadcast: 6:20 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.