Tides’ offense explodes for 26 runs, shatters several records in rout of Charlotte

The Norfolk Tides broke several team records with an epic offensive performance in a 26-11 rout of the Charlotte Knights on Wednesday night before 4,031 fans at Truist Field in North Carolina.

The Tides improved to 4-1 to take a one-game lead in the International League’s East Division and went up 2-0 in their first road series of the season. They have scored 65 runs in five games for a staggering average of 13 runs per contest.

Among the records broken Wednesday night:

• The Tides’ 26 runs and 29 hits were single-game highs for the franchise.
• Norfolk also hit eight home runs, a single-game record.
• Kyle Stowers hit three home runs to break the Orioles affiliate franchise career homer record of 42. He now has 44 homers with the team, and it was the second three-homer game of his Tides career. He finished with four hits, seven RBIs and three runs.
• Heston Kjerstad had 10 RBIs, a franchise record, and two homers (one a grand slam). That gives him four homers in his past two games. He went 5 for 7 and scored four runs. He’s hitting .583 for the season.

Don't even know what to say at this point@KyleStowers blasts his third homer of the night to extend his franchise record#RisingTide https://t.co/5ye9rfp0qw pic.twitter.com/it1oRQOtm3

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) April 4, 2024

Also hitting homers for the Tides were Connor Norby, David Bañuelos and Peyton Burdick.

Norfolk now has the IL’s top four home run leaders: Stowers (5), Kjerstad (4), Burdick (3) and Norby (3). No other player had more than two as of 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Six Tides had at least three hits. Kjerstad and Coby Mayo led the way with five each. Jackson Holliday and Stowers had four hits each, while Burdick and Bañuelos had three each.

Literally can't keep up with the highlights.@hestonkjerstad crushes his second home run of the game, a grand slam to put the Tides up 25-11. His 10 RBI sets the franchise record!

The 25 runs also sets a team single game record!#RisingTide pic.twitter.com/o7eBDFjEJB

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) April 4, 2024

Norfolk actually trailed 7-4 through three innings after the Knights (1-4) scored five runs in the bottom of the third. The Tides then proceeded to score two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings, five runs each in the seventh and eighth innings and one run in the ninth.

Three of Charlotte’s relief pitchers, the last of whom was shortstop Danny Mendick, gave up six runs apiece.

Tides starter Justin Armbruester didn’t make it out of the third inning, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. Tucker Davidson (1-0) relieved him and picked up the victory. He allowed a run in 2 1/3 innings.

Rafael Ortega paced Charlotte by going 3 for 4 with a homer and five RBIs.

The teams are set to play again at 7:04 p.m. Thursday.