Thomas Saggese hit two home runs, including a solo shot that helped spark a six-run sixth inning, and the Memphis Redbirds rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the Norfolk Tides 8-5 on Sunday at AutoZone Park in Tennessee.
The Tides still won the series 4-2 and head into the International League’s All-Star break with records of 44-48 overall and 8-9 in the second half.
Memphis (47-46, 9-9) snapped a three-game skid.
Saggese’s first homer was a two-run shot that put the Redbirds ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Norfolk answered with two runs in the second to tie it. Nick Maton hit a two-run homer for his third in two days and 10th of the season.
The Tides took the lead with a run in the third and two more in the fourth. Jackson Holliday scored on a wild pitch by Memphis starter Gordon Graceffo in the third. Maton scored when Blake Hunt reached on a fielding error in the fourth, and Holliday added an RBI single.
Holliday finished 3 for 5 with an RBI and run, and Maton went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs.
The Redbirds stormed back in the sixth. Saggese and Cesar Prieto each hit solo homers, Gavin Collins hit an RBI single, Victor Scott II hit a sacrifice fly and Prieto reached on a fielding error that scored Arquimedes Gamboa.
Norfolk starter Brandon Young allowed two runs on three hits in four innings. Reliever Carlos Tavera (2-2) allowed all six of Memphis’ runs in the sixth.
Redbirds reliever Andre Granillo (2-0) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings for the victory.
The Tides are off until Friday, when they will open a three-game home series against Nashville at 6:35 p.m. It will be 2023 Triple-A National Championship Snow Globe Giveaway Night.
