Six-run third inning propels Tides to another victory at Jacksonville

A six-run third inning and Ryan Watson’s four shutout innings of relief Friday night gave the Norfolk Tides an 8-4 victory before 7,521 fans at Jacksonville.

The Tides, who lead the International League at 27-9 and have won 11 of their last 13 games, grabbed a 3-1 lead in the six-game series against the Jumbo Shrimp (18-17) in Florida. It continues with a 6:35 p.m. Saturday game in which left-hander Bruce Zimmermann (1-2, 3.58) is scheduled to start.

Norfolk starter Chris Vallimont had trouble against shortstop Jacob Amaya, who hit a two-run single in the first inning and a two-run homer to left-center in the third. Vallimont gave up six hits and four walks in four innings.

But in between, the Tides’ season-long prolific offense surged in the third. RBI singles by Colton Cowser and Connor Norby tied the game, and Jordan Westburg hit a two-run triple to center to give Norfolk a 4-2 lead. Westburg scored on a fielder’s-choice grounder by Joey Ortiz, who came home for the inning’s last run on Daz Cameron’s sacrifice fly.

After rehabbing Baltimore Orioles reliever Dillon Tate pitched a scoreless fifth for Norfolk, showing his recovery from forearm problems, Lewin Diaz laced a double to right field to score Westburg and Ortiz in the sixth, giving the Tides an 8-4 edge.

Watson (3-1), a 6-foot-5 right-hander, made maintaining it look elementary, giving up just one hit and one walk in four innings for the victory. He struck out four. He has pitched 13 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.