On a Sunday when Western Branch High graduate Colin Selby was called up by Baltimore for the first time, the Norfolk Tides avoided a six-game sweep and halted a five-game slide by turning back Gwinnett 8-7 before 2,290 at Coolray Field.
Selby, who has given up six earned runs in nine innings of relief with the Tides, was called up as left-handed starter Cade Povich was sent back to Norfolk.
The former Randolph-Macon standout is 2-2 with an 8.67 ERA in 27 MLB innings — 24 for Pittsburgh and three for Kansas City.
The Stripers (58-62, 23-22 in the International League’s second half) had won every previous contest in the series in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and they erased most of a 7-1 deficit before succumbing to the Tides (56-64, 20-25). Luis González got the save despite yielding a two-run, two-out homer to Drake Baldwin in the ninth.
Brandon Young (4-3) continued his solid season, gaining with win by striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, including Yuri Gurriel’s solo homer in the second, and a walk.
Stripers starter Allan Winans (5-4) took the loss, yielding four earned runs and eight hits in five innings despite six strikeouts.
J.D. Davis scored three runs, Terrin Vavra scored two and drove in two, belting a solo homer in the fifth, and Shayne Fontana was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Gwinnett’s Alejo Lopez and Baldwin each had two hits and three RBIs.
The Tides will return home to Harbor Park for Tuesday’s 6:35 “Turn Back the Clock Night” game against the Worcester Red Sox.
