The Norfolk Tides are the 2023 International League Champions
The Norfolk Tides shutout the Durham Bulls To Win Governor’s Cup, and Advance To Triple-A Championship
The Norfolk Tides (2-1) defeat the Durham Bulls (1-2) 7-0 on Thursday night to win their sixth ever Governor’s Cup in franchise history. The last time the Norfolk Tides won the the Governor’s Cup was 1985. With the Norfolk Tides winning the International League Championship they are able to advance to the Triple-A Championship.
The Norfolk Tides would start Cade Povich for the final game of the three game set. After giving up a lead of single Povich would eventually get out of the inning leading him to pitch four scoreless innings. He would get pulled from the game after having 85 pitches on the game.
The Norfolk Tides struck first by hitting back to back doubles coming from Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo in the first inning. Coby Mayo drove in the first two runs to give the Norfolk Tides a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning Joey Ortiz would drive Coby Mayo in from third base on a fielders choice to extend the lead to 3-0.
Two innings later the first three Norfolk Tides’ batters would reach base safely. After the first our being recorded Lewis Diaz would come up to the plate and would line a ball into centerfield to extend the lead Norfolk Tides lead to 4-0. The Durham Bulls would eventually get out of the inning only giving up one run.
After a few innings of scoreless innings Jackson Holliday in the 8th inning would extend the lead to five for the Norfolk Tides by hitting a solo homerun. Later on in the inning Coby Mayo would smack his fourth hit of the night going a perfect 4 for 4 on the day. Mayo’s fourth hit ended up being a two-run homerun to extend to lead to 7-0.
The Norfolk Tides would put in Nick Vespi in the top half of the ninth inning to finish the game. He would strike out the last batter to win the Governor’s Cup for the Norfolk Tides.
The Norfolk Tides would advance to play in a one game playoff against the Oklahoma City Dodgers in Las Vegas on Saturday (9/30) at 10:00 PM Eastern Time. The game will be broadcasted live on the MLB Network.
