Orioles add Tides to exhibition schedule

The Orioles are extending their 2017 exhibition schedule beyond the final Grapefruit League game in Sarasota.

Triple-A Norfolk and the Orioles announced this afternoon that the teams will play a March 31 game at Harbor Park. The first pitch is slated for 3:05 p.m.

This will be the Orioles' fifth appearance in Norfolk since the Tides became the Triple-A affiliate in 2007. Harbor Park served as host for exhibition games between the Orioles and Nationals in 2007 and 2009, and the Orioles played the Tides in 2012 and 2014.

Suk-min Yoon pitched four innings for the Orioles in the 2014 game. Zach Davies started for Norfolk.

The Orioles closed out their exhibition schedule this year with a game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

"We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the Tides and the Norfolk community," executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a statement. "This game will not only help our club prepare for a successful season, but also provide our fans in southeastern Virginia with an opportunity to see Orioles stars of tomorrow play against our major league club."

"We are thrilled to be hosting the Orioles again this season" said Tides general manager Joe Gregory. "We're proud to be an affiliate of an outstanding partner like the Orioles, and this event is another example of Baltimore's commitment to growing Orioles baseball in the Hampton Roads community."

The initial exhibition schedule for 2017 closed with the Orioles playing the Tigers on March 30 at Ed Smith Stadium. The final road games was March 29 versus the Rays in Port Charlotte.

Final cuts often are made during the last game.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m., with box seats available for $25 and reserved seats available for $22. Tides season ticket holders and corporate partners will receive notification regarding early ticket purchasing.

Fans will be able to purchase tickets online via norfolktides.com, in person at the Harbor Park box office or via telephone at 1-800-745-3000.

The Orioles' exhibition schedule, which now will include the March 31 finale, can be found here.