The Norfolk Tides are the 2023 Triple-A National Champions
The Norfolk Tides Defeated The Oklahoma City Dodgers In A 7-6 Victory To Claim The Triple-A Championship.
The Norfolk Tides (3-1) win a nail biter against the Oklahoma City Dodgers (2-1) at Las Vegas Ballpark to claim their second ever Triple-A Championship. The last time the Norfolk Tides won a Triple-A Championship was in 1983 against the Portland Beavers.
The Norfolk Tides would threaten the score in the top of the first inning with runners on first and third base with one out. With Connor Norby at third base and Colton Cowser on first base the Oklahoma City Dodgers’ pitcher Yeny Almonte would be in a jam. With one out in the inning Almonte would retire the next batter but Colton Cowser would steal second base. Now with two outs and both runners in scoring position Kyle Stowers would come up to the plate. In a 3-2 count Kyle Stowers would strikeout to end the inning.
The next inning the Norfolk Tides would keep threatening after getting two runners on base but would leave them stranded. Although in the third inning Norfolk would finally put a run up on the board. The inning started off with a Connor Norby single. He would eventually reach third base off a pickoff error. With Colton Cowser getting hit by a pitch there would be runners on the corners again. Coby Mayo would be the next batter and. would hit a ground ball to third base and Connor Norby would be thrown out at home plate. Now with runners on first and second Cowser and Mayo would attempt a double steal. Cowser would reach third base safely leaving the the Oklahoma City Dodgers catcher to throw down to second base leaving Mayo in a rundown. Mayo was called out and Cowser would score to make it 1-0.
A few innings later with Justin Armbruester on the mound for the Norfolk Tides the Oklahoma City Dodgers would tie the game up in the fifth inning. With two outs Armbruester would give up a solo homerun so leave the score at 1-1. Armbruester pitched 5.0 innings with two hits, one earned run, three walks, and four strikeouts. He would finish with 71 pitches on the day.
The Oklahoma City Dodgers would take the lead 2-1in the bottom of the sixth inning by a leadoff double followed by a RBI single.
The next inning the Norfolk Tides would find their offense. Lewin Diaz would hit a double off the lefter-center field wall. Maverick Handley would pinch hit for Bemboom and would reach base on a four pitch walk. Jackson Holliday leading off would have a chance to score the runner from second base but would strikeout. With two outs now in the inning and Connor Norby up to bat there would still be a chance to come out of the innings with some runs. Connor Norby would walk leaving the bases loaded with Colton Cowser up to bat. Cowser would quickly fall behind 0-2 but would blast a 455 foot grand slam to center field giving the Norfolk Tides a 5-2 lead.
A few more innings later in the top of the ninth the Norfolk Tides would strike again. Maverick Handley would reach on a hit by pitch then would later score on a two-run homerun by Connor Norby extending the lead to 7-2. He went 3 for 3 with a homerun, two RBIs, and two walks.
The Oklahoma City Dodgers would put up a fight in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jorbit Vivas would lead off the inning with a walk then would reach second base on defensive indifference. Drew Avans would score Vivas by hitting an RBI single making the score 7-3. Avans would score when Michael Busch hit a two run homerun to make the score 7-5. The Norfolk Tides would switch pitchers and put in Joey Krehbiel. He would give up a solo homerun to Vargas to make it a 7-6 game. Krehbiel would get the last out on the next batter on only three pitches. The. Norfolk Tides would defeat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 7-6 with Colton Cowser being named MVP of the Triple-A Championship. Cowser would finish the game by going 2 for 4 including the go ahead grand slam.
