On the chilly Friday night they received rings for last year’s championships, the Norfolk Tides played more like that memorable team, ending a four-game slide with a 5-1 victory over Gwinnett before 6,270 fans.
Norfolk launched two more home runs, adding to its Triple-A-leading total of 48, while snapping a 10-game losing streak at Harbor Park.
The Stripers (12-12) still lead the series 3-1, and its fifth game of six is set for 6:35 Saturday night.
The Tides (10-15) had struggled mightily since a 7-1 start, but the pitching of Kyle Bradish helped them get back on track. He was making another rehabilitation start for the Baltimore Orioles as he recovers from a right ulnar collateral ligament sprain, which can lead to Tommy John surgery. Baltimore caught the sprain early in spring training and believes Bradish can avoid surgery.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde recently told The Baltimore Sun and other outlets that Bradish needs to be able to throw five innings and 80 pitches before a call-up will be considered.
Bradish was right around that mark, striking out six, walking one and giving up five hits on 77 pitches. It was a significant step for a guy who was 12-7 in 30 starts in 2023, throwing 168 2/3 innings.
The only run he yielded came home on Phillip Evans’ second-inning single to left, which cut Norfolk’s lead to 2-1. Evans had two of the Stripers’ six hits.
Justin Armbruester, usually a starter, responded well to a relief role, giving up just one hit, walking three and striking out six for a rare four-inning save.
Kyle Stowers, one of the Tides most responsible for getting those rings, socked a two-run homer to right-center in the first inning. Errol Robinson’s sacrifice fly scored Maverick Handley in the second.
Michael Pérez drove in the last two runs via a home run in the seventh and a single in the eighth, which enabled Hudson Haskin to cross the plate.
Chayce McDermott (0-1, 3.48 ERA) is Saturday’s probable starter for Norfolk, while Gwinnett plans to start fellow right-hander Darius Vines (0-0, 3.75) — who started for the Braves against reigning World Series champion Texas last Sunday night in Atlanta.
