The Norfolk Tides are in the stretch run of the season. With four series left, they remain 3.5 games out of first in the second half of the season, as they sit 28-23.
No matter how they finish, the Tides will be playing in the postseason starting September 26 due to their first place finish in the first half.
Recently, against the Durham Bulls, the Tides would win the series four games to two. This series included some good pitching, a couple of offensive games and the Tides coming back from an 11-2 deficit to win a game 13-12.
With all the excitement of this past series, let’s take a look at who stood out this past week.
HESTON KJERSTAD – OF/1B
The next prospect everyone is anticipating arriving in Baltimore continues to dazzle in Norfolk, as he pushes to make his case for a call-up.
Over the Durham series, Heston Kjerstad continued to maintain a hot bat as he ended the series with a 10-game on-base streak.
In Friday’s 12-9 Tides’ victory, Kjerstad had his best game of the series. At the dish, he would go 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in the game.
On the season, Kjerstad is slashing .302/.370/.508 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs across 63 games with Norfolk. He has totaled 73 hits, including 18 doubles and four triples, while scoring 50 times on the top minors circuit.
DAZ CAMERON – OF
The smooth-fielding outfielder showed up big this series against the Bulls, hitting .400 and picking up two multi-hit games. The son of former big leaguer Mike Cameron has a current six-game on-base streak going into the next series.
Cameron’s biggest game was in Saturday’s Tides’ victory. In the game, Cameron would go 3-for-5, including a grand slam, while he scored one run with five RBIs on the day.
For the season, Cameron is now slashing .270/.347/.466 across 96 games with 91 hits, including 16 home runs and 64 RBIs while scoring 54 runs and stealing 20 bases.
JOHN MEANS – LHP
There was no other choice this week for a standout pitcher than John Means. Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, Means is pushing to be an efficient and effective part of the Orioles’ closing push to the postseason and be an impact in October.
Means had successful stints in Double-A Bowie, and now it was time to move up to a different skill level and apply his craft for more fine tuning.
Means would work 4.1 innings to open the game for Norfolk. He would allow one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts, throwing 72 pitches (42 strikes).
Means has now appeared in four games on his recovery and compiled an 0-1 record across 11.2 innings while striking out 12. His ERA is at 4.63, and his WHIP is 1.20 while holding batters to a .227 batting average.
Norfolk has the day off on Monday before heading north to take on the first place Worcester Red Sox. The Tides have a chance to close the gap on first place.
Will they leave the Sox soaked, or will the Sox dry up the Tides push to first? It all starts Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. EST at Polar Park.
Who stood out to you for Norfolk this week? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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