Tides 5, Charlotte 4

NORFOLK

Tides 5, Charlotte 4

Norfolk outfielder Chris Roberson is earning a reputation for game-winning hits. Less than two weeks after he smacked a home run that beat Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Roberson laced a single to rightfield that scored Mike McCoy in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday to complete an unexpected comeback against Charlotte.

“He’s been clutch late in the game,” Tides manager Gary Allenson said. “Hasn’t he?”

After the game, Roberson beamed.

“We stayed in the game,” he said. “We did the little things and it paid off.”

Early , it appeared as if the Knights were on their way to beating the Tides (31-53) again . Charlotte had a 3-1 lead and history was on their side. Entering Sunday, the Knights were 9-2 against the Tides this year .

“They just kept pecking away at us,” Tides outfielder Chris Roberson. They just somehow managed to get on top. This time, it was nice to get on them.”

Charlotte manager Marc Bombard said Norfolk deserved to win.

“They took advantage of our mistakes today,” Bombard said. “You let a team hang around and they’ll get on you.”

In the Knights’ press packet distributed before Sunday’s game, a full sheet was devoted to scheduled starter Jack Egbert . But he wasn’t on the mound in the first inning. Righthander Esteban Loaiza was.

Loaiza, who is recovering from shoulder inflammation, was making an abbreviated rehabilitation start. He pitched one inning and allowed one run.

“Today it was not too good,” Loaiza said. “My shoulder felt a little stiff.”

Loaiza was signed by Chicago earlier this month after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and has appeared in three games for the White Sox . Not long ago, Loaiza was the ace of Chicago’s pitching staff.

In 2003, he won 21 games and led the American League in strikeouts with 207.

Now, it isn’t even certain Loaiza will crack the starting rotation in Chicago if promoted.

“Once I get back up there I will likely be a long reliever,” Loaiza said. “But they gave me another opportunity. They know me and I had great success there.”

Charlotte had 10 hits against Tides starter Randy Keisler – all singles. Keisler, who pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs, danced around trouble all afternoon. He induced three double-plays, relying on his defense to wiggle out of jams.

“They just put the ball in play,” said Keisler, who didn’t earn a decision. “And every inning was a grind.

But Roberson said Keisler gave the Tides a chance to win.

“He was disappointed with his last two starts,” Roberson said. “But he had a good game.”

Charlotte (LHP Wes Whisler, 8-5, 3.09 ERA) vs. Tides (Andy Mitchell, 7-4, 4.59 ERA) at Harbor Park at 7:15 p.m.