Durham dealt Norfolk its fifth loss in six games, beating the Tides 5-3 Friday night as Tre’ Morgan slugged a walk-off two-run homer to center field before 9,119 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Reed Trimble slugged two home runs, both to right-center, for the Tides (29-36 in the International League’s second half, 59-79 overall), giving him four in Triple-A this year. All of Norfolk’s three hits left the park.
The series, scheduled for seven games, will continue with a split doubleheader starting at about 1 p.m. Saturday. Durham (35-30, 80-60) has won three of the first four.
Morgan finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs.
Coco Montes led off the Durham ninth by drawing a walk from Anthony Nunez. Jalen Battles bunted Montes to second before Kameron Misner struck out swinging. Morgan then clubbed a 1-2 changeup over the fence.
Tides starter Trey Gibson, a Grafton High graduate, struck out seven, walked one and plunked one batter in five innings.
He shut out Durham in the first four innings before yielding an RBI single to Montes and a two-run double to Morgan in the fifth. Gibson gave up three earned runs and five hits.
Trimble’s first home run, in the fourth, put the Tides ahead 1-0. His second, in the sixth, trimmed the Bulls’ lead to 3-2. Those were the only hits allowed in six innings by Durham starter Logan Workman, who struck out 10 and walked one.
Jud Fabian’s homer to right-center off Trevor Martin evened the score at 3 in the seventh.
Baltimore’s Jordan Westburg began a rehabilitation assignment with Norfolk. He was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Right-handers Levi Wells (0-0, 7.59) of Norfolk and Jesse Scholtens (1-2, 4.85) of Durham are scheduled to start Game 1. Game 2, set for 6 p.m., should feature a variety of pitchers.