Norfolk Tides show uneven results, encouraging pitching performances since July 8

The Norfolk Tides have experienced nearly every type of game since Wednesday, July 8.

Norfolk split a doubleheader, earned an extra-inning walk-off victory, received two dominant starts from Nestor German and struggled through several games in which its offense failed to produce enough consistent pressure.

The Tides went 5-5 over their 10 completed games from July 8 through July 22, with the July 23 game against the Charlotte Knights postponed because of rain. Norfolk scored 38 runs during the stretch while allowing 43.

German provided the strongest performances on the mound, while Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Heston Kjerstad, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Jud Fabian and several experienced Triple-A players supplied scattered offensive highlights.

July 8: Syracuse Mets 9, Norfolk Tides 3 — Game 1

Norfolk opened the stretch with a difficult seven-inning loss in the first game of a doubleheader against Syracuse.

Cade Povich struggled to command the strike zone and allowed seven runs on six hits and four walks over 3⅓ innings. Povich struck out two, but the walks and traffic prevented him from working deep into the abbreviated game.

Cameron Weston entered with two runners aboard in the fourth inning. Both inherited runners scored, and Weston allowed two additional runs before completing the inning. Yaramil Hiraldo and Andrew Magno stabilized the game by combining for three scoreless innings.

Norfolk finished with four hits and four walks. Bryan Ramos delivered the Tides’ only extra-base hit with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Jonathan Rodriguez and Kjerstad each recorded a hit and an RBI, while Luis Vázquez scored twice.

Bradfield finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Norfolk could not overcome Syracuse’s early offensive production and dropped the opener, 9-3.

July 8: Norfolk Tides 3, Syracuse Mets 2 — Game 2

Norfolk responded with a much sharper pitching performance in the second game of the doubleheader.

Chris Kachmar allowed two runs over three innings, with both runs coming during the first inning. Norfolk’s bullpen prevented Syracuse from scoring again.

Yaqui Rivera worked 2⅔ scoreless and hitless innings before José Espada recorded the final four outs. Espada earned the victory with 1⅓ scoreless innings.

Norfolk did not generate many scoring opportunities, but the Tides capitalized when runners reached base. Fabian lifted a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and Encarnacion-Strand delivered the deciding hit with a two-run double in the sixth.

Bradfield produced one of his best games of the stretch. The speedy outfielder singled, tripled, stole a base and scored twice as Norfolk secured the 3-2 victory.

July 9: Norfolk Tides 5, Syracuse Mets 4 — 10 innings

Norfolk followed the doubleheader split with one of its most dramatic victories of the month.

José Barrero opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. Encarnacion-Strand then launched a three-run homer in the third, giving Norfolk a 4-2 advantage.

The Tides carried the lead into the later innings, but Syracuse gradually erased it. Dietrich Enns allowed one run over two innings before Yosver Zulueta surrendered the tying run in the eighth.

Christian Herberholz gave Norfolk a solid start, limiting Syracuse to two runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks over five innings. Herberholz struck out one.

The game moved into extra innings tied at four. Josh Walker kept Syracuse off the board in the top of the 10th before Vázquez singled to right field and drove home the automatic runner for the walk-off victory.

Norfolk recorded only five hits in 10 innings. Kjerstad and Sam Huff each went 1-for-4, but the home runs from Barrero and Encarnacion-Strand allowed the Tides to make the most of their limited offense.

July 10: Syracuse Mets 3, Norfolk Tides 2

Norfolk’s offense collected opportunities but could not generate enough runs in a one-run loss.

Kjerstad accounted for three of Norfolk’s hits, raising his season line at the time to .301/.330/.451 through 44 games. Bradfield added a single and a walk from the leadoff position.

Norfolk still finished with only two runs. The Tides struggled to create impact offense around Kjerstad’s three-hit performance and could not complete a late comeback.

The loss illustrated one of Norfolk’s recurring problems during the stretch. The lineup frequently received contributions from one or two hitters but struggled to string together enough productive plate appearances to produce a large inning.

July 11: Norfolk Tides 3, Syracuse Mets 2

Nestor German delivered the best pitching performance of Norfolk’s homestand.

German completed a career-high seven scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed only five total baserunners and struck out six while facing a Syracuse lineup filled with players who had major league experience.

The outing marked German’s second consecutive scoreless start.

Encarnacion-Strand supplied the biggest swing with his 17th home run for Norfolk. Kjerstad went 0-for-3 but drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Bradfield finished 0-for-3 with a walk.

Norfolk carried a 3-0 lead into the ninth inning. Magno, who had been nearly unhittable for much of the season, allowed two runs but prevented Syracuse from completing the comeback. Magno recorded his sixth save while maintaining a 1.04 ERA.

The victory gave Norfolk three wins in four games against Syracuse before the series finale was canceled because of wet grounds.

July 12: Syracuse-Norfolk game canceled

The scheduled series finale was canceled because of wet grounds rather than postponed.

Norfolk therefore entered the Triple-A break having won three of five completed games against Syracuse.

July 17: Norfolk Tides 4, Nashville Sounds 2

The Tides returned from the break with a road victory over Nashville.

Povich allowed two solo home runs, but he prevented either mistake from turning into a larger inning. The left-hander completed five innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks.

Norfolk trailed before scoring twice in the seventh inning to move ahead. The Tides added an insurance run in the ninth despite finishing with only four hits.

Bradfield went 0-for-3 with a walk and drove in a run on a groundout. Kjerstad finished 0-for-4.

The bullpen preserved the lead. Magno worked a scoreless eighth inning and allowed one hit, lowering his ERA to 1.01 through 35⅔ innings. Norfolk’s relievers protected the advantage and completed the 4-2 victory.

July 18: Norfolk Tides 9, Nashville Sounds 2

German followed his seven-inning gem against Syracuse with another dominant performance.

The right-hander allowed one run on two hits and one walk over six innings. German struck out four, with his only run allowed coming on a solo home run in the second.

Through three July starts, German had allowed only one run over 18 innings.

Norfolk supported him with two separate four-run innings. Michael Siani led the offense with a single, a double and three RBIs.

Fabian drove in two runs with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly while also drawing a walk. Bradfield contributed two singles from the top of the lineup, and Kjerstad added an RBI single in five at-bats.

The combination of German’s efficiency and Norfolk’s balanced offense produced the Tides’ most convincing victory of the stretch.

July 19: Nashville Sounds 4, Norfolk Tides 0

Norfolk’s offense disappeared one day after scoring nine runs.

Trey Gibson pitched well enough to keep the Tides within striking distance. Gibson allowed one run over four innings, with the run scoring after a walk and a triple.

The game remained 1-0 until the seventh. Hans Crouse entered and allowed three runs without retiring a batter, increasing Nashville’s lead to four.

Hiraldo, Nick Raquet, Yaqui Rivera and Enoli Paredes each recorded scoreless appearances, but Norfolk could not take advantage.

The Tides finished with only two hits. Silas Ardoin and Bradfield each singled, while the rest of the lineup went hitless in the 4-0 loss.

July 21: Charlotte Knights 7, Norfolk Tides 6

Norfolk nearly erased a four-run deficit but fell one productive plate appearance short.

The Tides scored early before starter Trace Bright ran into serious trouble during the fourth and fifth innings. Bright allowed seven runs across the two frames, putting Norfolk behind 7-3.

The deficit remained four runs until the eighth. Barrero doubled, moved to third on a Ryan Noda single and scored on a Bryan Ramos groundout.

Norfolk mounted another rally in the ninth. Carter Young and Bradfield walked before Kjerstad singled home Young. Kjerstad finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs after also driving in a run on a first-inning groundout.

After a Fabian lineout and a Creed Willems strikeout, Barrero walked to load the bases. Noda followed with another walk, forcing home Bradfield and reducing Charlotte’s lead to 7-6.

Alfredo Velásquez represented Norfolk’s final chance but grounded out to first base, leaving the tying run at third.

The comeback showed resilience, but Bright’s difficult middle innings created too large a deficit.

July 22: Charlotte Knights 8, Norfolk Tides 4

Norfolk relied entirely on two home runs in its second consecutive loss to Charlotte.

Kjerstad hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his sixth home run of the season. Fabian scored ahead of him.

Bryan Ramos added a two-run homer in the ninth, with Noda aboard. Ramos’ third home run accounted for Norfolk’s final runs and made the score closer, but the Tides could not create a sustained rally.

Bradfield went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Willems finished 0-for-3.

Kachmar allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over his start, striking out four. Enns struggled in relief, permitting two runs on three hits, including two home runs, and three walks over 1⅓ innings.

Hans Crouse and Espada combined for 2⅔ scoreless innings, but Cam Sanders allowed a two-run homer later in the game.

Norfolk’s offense finished with four runs, all coming on the Kjerstad and Ramos home runs.

July 23: Game postponed

Norfolk’s scheduled game at Charlotte was postponed because of rain. The postponement prevented the Tides from attempting to end their two-game losing streak that evening.

German emerges as the standout pitcher

German produced the most encouraging development of the stretch.

Across his starts against Syracuse and Nashville, German threw 13 innings and allowed one run. He struck out 10 while surrendering only seven hits and two walks.

His seven scoreless innings against Syracuse represented the longest outing of his professional career. German then held Nashville to one run on two hits over six innings.

German’s ability to limit walks and work deeper into games separates him from several other Norfolk starters. The Orioles have dealt with significant rotation movement throughout the organization, and German’s July performance strengthened his position among Baltimore’s upper-level pitching depth.

Povich remains inconsistent

Povich’s two starts represented the two different versions of the left-hander.

Syracuse scored seven runs against him in only 3⅓ innings as four walks contributed to his problems. Against Nashville, Povich recovered and allowed only two runs over five innings.

Both Nashville runs came on solo homers, an issue that has followed Povich at different points. However, he limited the damage by avoiding additional traffic and gave Norfolk enough innings to remain competitive.

Povich still possesses major league experience and remains a possible depth option for Baltimore, but improved command and fewer home runs will determine whether he receives another extended opportunity.

Kjerstad supplies hits but seeks consistency

Kjerstad’s stretch included a three-hit game, RBI singles and a two-run home run against Charlotte.

The former top prospect also experienced several hitless games, including an 0-for-4 performance in Norfolk’s July 17 victory and an 0-for-3 result during German’s dominant start against Syracuse.

Kjerstad remains one of Norfolk’s most important hitters because of his left-handed power and major league experience. The home run at Charlotte was encouraging, but Norfolk needs him to become a consistent middle-of-the-order force rather than produce in isolated games.

Bradfield’s speed remains valuable

Bradfield’s best performance came during the second game of the July 8 doubleheader.

The outfielder singled, tripled, stole a base and scored twice. Bradfield also recorded two hits against Nashville and reached base multiple times in several other games through singles and walks.

However, his offensive production remained inconsistent. Bradfield recorded several hitless games and entered the Nashville series with an OPS below .700 at Triple-A.

His speed, defense and baserunning remain major assets. Continued improvement against advanced pitching will determine how quickly he can become a realistic option for Baltimore’s outfield.

Encarnacion-Strand provides needed power

Encarnacion-Strand delivered some of Norfolk’s biggest swings against Syracuse.

The infielder hit a three-run homer in the 5-4 extra-inning victory and followed with his 17th Norfolk home run during German’s 3-2 win. Encarnacion-Strand also delivered the decisive two-run double in the second game of the July 8 doubleheader.

Norfolk’s lineup has lacked consistent power outside of a few experienced hitters. Encarnacion-Strand provided the type of middle-order production the Tides need to remain competitive.

MSB analysis

Norfolk’s 5-5 record during the stretch accurately reflected the team’s uneven performance.

The Tides received several excellent starts, particularly from German. Povich showed improvement in Nashville, and Norfolk’s bullpen delivered enough strong innings to protect several narrow leads.

The offense remained the larger concern.

Norfolk scored nine runs in one game against Nashville but managed only two hits the following afternoon. The Tides scored four runs against Charlotte entirely through two home runs and nearly completed a comeback in the series opener only after falling behind by four.

The organization’s primary goal at Triple-A remains player development and preparing depth for Baltimore. From that perspective, German’s emergence, Encarnacion-Strand’s power and Kjerstad’s occasional impact were positive developments.

Norfolk still needs more consistency from its top hitters. Bradfield, Kjerstad, Fabian and Willems represent important pieces of Baltimore’s upper-level depth, but the group has not consistently produced together.

Until that changes, Norfolk will continue to alternate between impressive wins and games in which the lineup creates too little offense to support its pitching staff.