Moore vexes Tides again
One night after defeating the best pitcher in the International League, the Norfolk Tides were stopped in their tracks by another top-level pitcher Friday night at Harbor Park as they fell to the Durham Bulls 4-1 in front of 6,611 fans.
Matt Moore (4-0, 1.37) won his 10th straight decision, dating back to May 15 when he lost a Double-A start with Montgomery, by defeating the Tides for the second time in 11 days. He allowed just one run on four hits in 6.0 innings and struck out 10 batters, his sixth double-digit strikeout performance in 27 total starts this season.
Brandon Snyder put the lone blemish on Moore’s night, driving in Josh Bell with a double in the 4th inning that made the score 4-1.
Chris Tillman (3-6, 5.19) took the loss after allowing four runs in 5.0 innings. He allowed just five hits and struck out four batters, but it was four walks that hurt him.
Tillman’s first walk came with two outs in the 1st inning, and Dan Johnson made him pay by crushing a two-run homer into the Tides bullpen that gave Durham an early lead. The righthander didn’t issue his second walk until the 4th inning, but once again the Bulls were able to plate a run off the base on balls when Leslie Anderson hammered a run-scoring double to straight-away center field.
Rob Delaney picked up his 13th save by tossing a perfect 9th inning.
Tim Beckham also added an RBI for the Bulls.
Wynn Pelzer tossed 3.0 scoreless innings and Nick Bierbrodt added a scoreless 9th inning for the Tides.
The win gave the Bulls their 5th-straight South Division Championship.
The Tides paid tribute to the servicemembers killed in the August 6th plane crash in Afghanistan with a pre-game ceremony. Players and coaches wore special camouflage uniforms with names of the servicemembers on their back. The game-worn jerseys were presented to the families of the servicemembers following the game.
The Tides and Bulls will continue their four-game series Saturday night at 7:15. RH Mitch Atkins (3-7, 5.20) will take the ball for the Tides opposite LH Alex Torres (9-7, 3.14). It will be fan appreciation night at Harbor Park as thousands of prizes will be given away to fans throughout the game. A spectacular fireworks show will follow the game.
Tides drop finale in extras
Tim Beckham delivered a go-ahead single in the 10th inning Sunday at Harbor Park, and the Norfolk Tides dropped the finale to the Durham Bulls 4-3 in front of 5,587 fans.
Sean Gleason (0-1, 3.00) took the loss after tossing 1.0 inning. He gave up a one-out single to Ray Olmedo. Olmedo moved to third base when Matt Angle’s diving attempt at J.J. Furmaniak’s sinking line drive came up empty. That set the stage for Beckham’s game winner.
The Tides staked starter Chris George to an early lead with two runs in the 1st inning. Brandon Snyder and Jake Fox delivered back-to-back RBI singles for the home team, but George couldn’t make the lead hold up.
George, who entered the game with a sparkling 2.87 ERA in his previous six appearances, never found his command during his 3.0 innings on the hill. Pitching with slick playing conditions as a steady rain fell onto the field, the former first round draft pick tied a season high with five walks and gave up three runs on five hits.
Daniel Mayora put the visitors on the board with a one-out single in the 2nd inning that scored Russ Canzler, who walked to leadoff the inning. Brendan Harris connected on his ninth home run of the season an inning later, a solo shot that briefly put the Tides ahead by two, but the Bulls tied the contest with a trio of extra base hits in the 3rd inning. Brandon Guyer led off the frame with a triple and scored on Matt Carson’s double to center field. One out later, Leslie Anderson came through with an RBI double that knotted the game at 3-3.
Dane De La Rosa (5-4, 3.43) took the win in relief of Matt Torra after tossing 2.0 shutout innings. He gave up two hits but struck out five batters.
Torra lasted 5.0 innings and gave up three runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked one.
The Tides will take Monday off before heading to Durham Tuesday for the start of a two-game series with the Bulls. RH Chris Tillman (3-4, 4.13) will take the ball for the Tides opposite LH Matt Moore (3-0, 1.04). The Tides will return to Harbor Park for the final homestand of 2011 on Monday, August 29 when they take on the Charlotte Knights.
Biggest crowd of year watches Tides win
The biggest Harbor Park crowd of the year witnessed the Norfolk Tides defeat the Durham Bulls 3-2 Saturday night.
Rick VandenHurk (8-13, 4.58) delivered his second-straight strong outing for the Tides much to the delight of the 11,031 fans in attendance. The Dutch righthander tossed 6.0 innings and allowed just one run on two hits. His lone blemish came in the 2nd inning when he served up a two-out home run to Matt Carson.
The Tides came right back with four-straight hits to leadoff the 2nd inning. Robbie Widlansky’s single off Leslie Anderson’s glove at first base plated Jake Fox to tie the game. Tyler Henson followed with an RBI single that ricocheted off pitcher Andy Sonnanstine and scored Brandon Snyder to give the home team the lead.
The Tides bullpen made things interesting in relief of VandenHurk but continually worked their way out of jams to preserve the lead. Wynn Pelzer allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base in the 7th inning but got Leslie Anderson to ground into a double play before coaxing a weak, inning-ending pop-up from Ray Olmedo to end the threat unharmed.
After Brendan Harris added an RBI single to make it 3-1 in the 7th inning, Pelzer worked himself into more trouble the following frame. The righthander walked two of the first three batters he faced in the inning before ceding ball to Zach Phillips with one out. Dan Johnson brought the visitors to within a run with an RBI single off Phillips, but Tides closer Mark Worrell came in and struck out Russ Canzler to end the frame.
Worrell earned his 17th save of the season after tossing a scoreless 9th inning.
Sonnanstine (3-4, 3.86) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings. He struck out six batters and walked two.
The Tides will close out their homestand Sunday at 6:15 when they host the same Durham Bulls. LH Chris George (6-4, 4.16) gets the call for the home team opposite RH Matt Torra. The first 4,000 fans to enter the park will receive a Jake Fox full-color photo courtesy of Bank of the Commonwealth and Hot 100.5 FM.
Durham silences Tides
Robinson Chirinos delivered the game’s biggest hit, and the Durham Bulls defeated the Norfolk Tides 3-1 Sunday at Harbor Park in front of 3,965 fans.
Nick Bierbrodt served up the hit to the Durham catcher, a two-run double to deep center field that gave the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 6th inning. Bierbrodt had just replaced starter Brian Matusz after Matusz issued a one-out walk to Jose Lobaton that gave the Bulls runners at first and second base.
The Tides had their chances on the afternoon. Norfolk recorded 12 hits but went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Brendan Harris delivered the lone hit, a one-out RBI single that plated Jake Fox and gave the home team runners at first and second base. Then, with a hit-and-run in place, John Hester lined out to the left fielder who tossed it to second base and easily doubled-off Green. It was one of four double-plays the Tides hit into on the afternoon.
Matusz (0-2, 3.94) took the loss after allowing two runs in 5. 1innings. He allowed six hits and three walks while striking out six batters.
Alex Torres (6-6, 3.30) picked up the win after allowing just the one earned run in 7.0 innings. The lefthander allowed 10 hits on the afternoon but kept the Tides at bay thanks to three inning-ending double plays.
Felipe Lopez added a sacrifice fly in the 7th inning to close out the scoring.
Jay Buente picked up his first save after allowing two hits in 2.0 innings. He struck out two batters.
The Tides will take the next three days off for the All-Star Break. The Triple-A All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Tides will be represented by closer Mark Worrell.
The Tides will return to action on Thursday, July 14 when they open a four-game series in Gwinnett. The team will return to Harbor Park on Monday, July 18 for an eight-game homestand that features the Toledo MudHens and Gwinnett Braves.
Bulls rally in ninth, beat Tides in extras
The Norfolk Tides gave up five runs in the 9th inning Saturday night at Harbor Park before falling 11-8 to the Durham Bulls in 13 innings, in front of 10,409 fans.
The Tides led 8-3 heading into the 9th inning before the Bulls started to chip away at the lead. The first four batters of the inning reached base off reliever Jeremy Accardo, who went into the night having not allowed a run in 8.0 innings this season with the Tides. Felipe Lopez got it started by reaching on a throwing error by Josh Bell. Consecutive singles followed before Russ Canzler delivered a two-run double for the visitors. Accardo was relieved in favor of Mark Worrell after getting John Matulia to fly out, but Robinson Chirinos greeted the Tides All-Star with an RBI double down the line. J.J. Furmaniak, pinch-running for Chirinos, came around to score on an RBI single by Leslie Anderson to tie the game.
Durham used consecutive singles off Josh Rupe in the 13th inning to score three times. Matulia tried to push both runners up a bag with a sacrifice bunt, but instead reached second base when Rupe’s throw to first base sailed into right field. The errant throw allowed Lobaton to score. Canzler came around to score moments later on a wild pitch by Rupe. Matulia then scored on a sacrifice fly from Furmaniak.
Rupe (2-3, 6.40) allowed three runs (two earned) during his season-high 4.0 innings on the mound.
The Tides jumped ahead in the game with a five-run 3rd inning that seemingly put away the Bulls. Trailing 2-1 to begin the frame, Josh Bell led off with a solo home run to right field. The next three Tides batters reached to load the bases, setting the stage for Nick Green’s sacrifice fly that put the home team ahead. Brendan Harris followed with a two-run double. Matt Angle added an RBI infield single as well.
Rob Delaney (3-1, 2.13) picked up the win by tossing 2.0 scoreless frames. He allowed just one hit and struck out three batters.
Steve Johnson tossed 5.0 innings for the Tides and was in line to win his first game with Norfolk before the late collapse. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits. He also walked five batters.
Angle continued his hot-stretch with a 2-for-5 performance. He added a second RBI in the 8th inning.
Ryan Adams, Jake Fox and Brandon Snyder each added three hits for the Tides. The team produced 18 hits, one night after recording a season-best 19 hits.
Bell had four throwing errors on the night, tying a Tides Triple-A record. Sergio Ferrer made four errors for the Tides on April 18, 1979.
The two clubs will finish out the first-half of the season Sunday with a 1:15 p.m. game. LH Brian Matusz (0-1, 4.22) will take the ball opposite LH Alex Torres (5-6, 3.47). The first 4,000 fans to enter the park will receive a full-color photo of Tides catcher John Hester compliments of Bank of the Commonwealth and ESPN Radio 94.1.
