Jorge Mateo hit a two-run homer in his first rehab assignment game with Norfolk, sparking a five-run third inning that sent the Tides to a 5-2 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Wednesday night before 4,147 fans at Harbor Park.
The Tides improved to 2-0 in the second half with their fourth win in five games.
Mateo, who has been on the MLB injured list with a left elbow injury, drove a ball over the wall in left-center to give Norfolk a 2-1 lead. Jud Fabian, who had singled to lead off the inning, scored in front of Mateo.
Vimael Machín added a two-run double to left and Emmanuel Rivera an RBI single to center in the inning to make it 5-1.
Jarred Kelenic went 3 for 4 with an RBI single in the third and Jonathan Ornelas hit a solo homer in the ninth for Gwinnett (0-2).
Tides starter Roansy Contreras (4-2) tossed five strong innings, allowing a run on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Matt Bowman pitched two scoreless innings and Grant Wolfram blanked the Stripers in the eighth. Yaramil Hiraldo gave up Ornelas’ homer in the ninth.
Each of the Tides’ pitchers had two strikeouts each.
Gwinnett starter Davis Daniel (4-6) gave up all five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Jeremiah Jackson went 2 for 4 with a run to boost his batting average to .365 for Norfolk. Jacob Stallings and Rivera also had two hits.
The teams are scheduled to play at 12:05 p.m. Thursday.