Tides survive Memphis comeback, improve to 33-13

If anybody doubted Norfolk’s offensive potency this year, consider this: The Tides gave up 19 runs in the first two games of their current series — but won both.

In a Wednesday matinee in Tennessee, they built an eight-run lead and hung on to beat Memphis 9-7. Tuesday night, the International League-leading Tides won a 13-12 thriller in 11 innings.

Wednesday, Lewin Diaz drove in three runs to spark Norfolk (33-13) to a 9-1 margin by the fourth inning, and the Tides survived a rally by the Redbirds, the top affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Diaz hit an RBI ground-rule double and a two-run homer. Connor Norby had two RBIs, and Mark Kolozsvary and second baseman Joseph Rosa — who was signed earlier Wednesday — each had two hits, scored a run and drove in one. All nine runs were charged to left-hander Connor Thomas (4-3).

Tides lefty Cole Irvin (5-1) pitched five innings for the victory, yielding two hits, two runs and no walks. The Redbirds roughed up reliever Spenser Watkins for four runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings, but Nick Vespi pitched a hitless ninth for the save.

Moises Gomez scored three times and slugged two solo homers for Memphis. Taylor Motter was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

The teams will continue the six-game series at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. Lefty Drew Rom (4-2, 3.40 ERA) is slated to start for Norfolk against right-hander Michael McGreevy (2-0, 3.07).