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.
Gomez’ 8 RBI drops Tides
The Norfolk Tides had no answers for Mauro Gomez during Wednesday night’s 11-2 loss to the Gwinnett Braves at Harbor Park. . The game was a continuation from the July 25 suspended game and had an announced crowd of 3,960.
The Braves first baseman had an historic night, homering twice and driving in eight runs, the most any opponent has ever recorded against the Tides. He did it with a grand slam, a solo home run and a three-run triple.
Of all the hits, it was his bases-clearing triple in the 7th inning that proved to be the biggest one. It came moments after Stefan Gartrell tied the game at 2-2 with the Braves fourth-straight single, and it gave his team their first lead of the night.
Pitching with a 2-1 lead, Cole McCurry fell into trouble after getting the first out in the 7th inning. The lefthander, who took the mound when play resumed with one out in the 5th inning, allowed four-straight singles as the visitors moved from station-to-station on each base hit. Gartrell capped the singles rally with an RBI knock to left field that tied the contest at 2-2. Gomez followed with his bases-clearing triple that put the Braves ahead for good.
McCurry (2-2, 5.21) took the loss after being charged with six runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings.
Gomez wasn’t finished, though. The Gwinnett slugger came to bat in the 8th inning with the bases juiced again and drove a Nick Bierbrodt offering deep into the Tides bullpen to give his team a commanding 11-2 lead. It was the second home run of the game for Gomez, who hit a solo shot in the 4th inning to tie the game at 1-1 before play was suspended.
The Tides took a 2-1 lead after play resumed without the benefit of a hit. Felix Pie drew a walk, and then showcased his speed by stealing second and third base before trotting home after Diory Hernandez mishandled Wil Nieves’s throw to third base on the stolen base attempt.
The Tides got on the board first with an RBI single from Jake Fox that scored Matt Angle.
Brandon Hicks added a solo home run in the 7th inning.
Jaye Chapman (2-1, 2.35) picked up the win despite allowing the Tides to take their brief lead in the 6th inning. The reliever allowed a run on one hit but was the pitcher of record when the Braves bats exploded in the 7th inning. He struck out three batters in 1.0 inning on the mound.
Jerry Keller (1981), Mike Figga (1997) and Michael Coleman (1999) previously held the record for most RBI in a game against the Tides with seven.
The Braves and Tides are scheduled to play a seven-inning contest tonight as well.
Tides can’t make early lead stand up
The Norfolk Tides couldn’t make an early lead stick Tuesday night at Harbor Park and fell 8-6 to the Charlotte Knights in front of 4,362 fans.
Playing to a 4-2 lead after six innings, the Tides surrendered two runs in each of the last three innings. Steve Johnson, who had pitched brilliantly through 6.0 innings, ran into trouble in the 7th frame when he allowed consecutive hits to lead off the inning. Andrew Garcia cut the deficit in half with a sacrifice fly that scored Jordan Danks and ended the night for Johnson. Wynn Pelzer came on in relief and recorded one out before surrendering an RBI single to Eduardo Escobar that tied the game.
Pelzer (0-1, 3.52) remained in the game to start the 8th inning but wasn’t effective. After allowing a leadoff single to Jared Price, the reliever issued two one-out walks before serving up a go-ahead, two-run single to Danks.
The Tides jumped ahead early off Charlotte Knights starter Phil Humber, who was pitching on a Major League rehab assignment. Josh Bell got the Tides on the board with a two-run homer in the 1st inning and later added an RBI single in the 3rd inning to make it 3-0. Brandon Snyder followed with an RBI single that scored Bell.
Humber settled down to last 5.0 innings and allowed just the four runs on seven hits but didn’t factor into the decision. The White Sox starter struck out five batters and walked just one.
The Knights chipped away at the Tides lead, adding a run in the 4th and 6th inning. Dallas McPherson put his team on the board with a towering home run to right field. Lastings Milledge inched the visitors closer with a two-out RBI single in the 6th.
Johnson was charged with all four runs (three earned). He allowed seven hits on the night in 6.1 innings.
Wes Whisler (3-2, 8.15) picked up the win by tossing 2.0 scoreless innings. Shane Lindsay gave up one run, a two-out RBI double Rhyne Hughes, in 1.0 inning to earn his fourth save of the year.
The Knights put up two runs in the 9th inning. Jim Gallagher added an RBI single while McPherson came around to score on an errant pickoff attempt.
Brendan Harris added a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning for the Tides.
The Harbor Park lights went out with two outs in the 9th inning and Brandon Snyder at the plate. Snyder, who represented the tying run, was batting with a 3-2 count at the time. He struck out on the first pitch he saw after the 16 minute delay.
The Tides will welcome Gwinnett to Harbor Park Wednesday for the start of a two-game set. The two clubs will pick up their suspended game from July 25. That game was suspended due to rain just before the start of the 5th inning with the score tied 1-1. The regularly-scheduled game will follow its conclusion and last seven innings. RH Rick VandenHurk (9-13, 4.43) will pitch the regularly scheduled game opposite RH Randall Delgado (2-2, 4.15). Pitchers for the suspended game have not been announced.
Late homer dooms Tides
Mitch Atkins made one mistake Monday night at Harbor Park, and it cost the Norfolk Tides as they fell to the Charlotte Knights 4-3 in front of 3,654 fans.
Pitching with a 3-2 lead in the 7th inning, Atkins (3-7, 5.20) gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Gookie Dawkins that proved to be the difference in the game. Atkins had been cruising at that point, striking out 10 of the previous 16 batters he faced prior to the inning. He finished the game with a season-high 11 strikeouts while walking just one batter.
The Tides took the lead a half inning prior on an RBI single from Felix Pie that found its way into the outfield after going under the glove of three different infielders, including pitcher Gregory Infante. The single plated Tyler Henson who had led off the 6th inning with a double.
Infante (1-4, 3.30) tossed 2.0 innings and allowed just the one run on three hits. He picked up the win in relief of Joe Serafin who gave up two runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings after being staked to an early 2-0 lead.
The Knights scored twice on Atkins in the 1st frame before the Tides starter locked in. Justin Greene led off the game with a single to left field and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Following a one-out walk, Dallas McPherson put Charlotte on the board with an RBI groundout that Atkins took himself. The Knights scored their second run on a throwing error by Blake Davis at shortstop that allowed Jim Gallagher to score from second base.
The Tides came back with two runs in the 5th inning to tie the contest. Kyle Hudson started things for the home team with a single and moved to second base on a walk by Pie. Brandon Snyder came through with an RBI single that cut the deficit in half and Rhyne Hughes tied it up with an RBI single that deflected off Serafin’s glove and scored Pie from third base.
Addison Reed picked up his second save with two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit while striking out one.
The Tides got 2.0 scoreless innings from Clay Rapada and Jeremy Accardo. Each pitcher gave up a hit while Accardo walked two and struck out three.
The Tides and Knights will close out their 2011 season series Tuesday at 7:15. RH Steve Johnson (2-6, 5.79) will take the hill for the Tides opposite RH Phil Humber (0-0, N/A) who will be making a Major League rehab start for Charlotte.
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.
Tides punchless in 4-0 loss
Zach Britton was effective on the mound Tuesday night for the Norfolk Tides but the offense couldn’t get things going in a 4-0 loss to the Charlotte Knights in front of 4,649 fans at Harbor Park.
Despite taking the loss, Britton (0-1, 1.80) flashed the stuff that made Baseball America rate him as the organization’s top pitching prospect heading into the season. The lefthander allowed just one run on three hits in 5.0 innings of work and was rarely in trouble after a shaky first frame.
The Knights jumped on the board early with a two-out RBI single from Dallas McPherson. Jim Gallagher scored from second base on the play after walking with one out in the frame. Britton nearly got out of the inning unscathed when Dayan Viciedo hit a ball right at Ryan Adams at second base, but the Tides infielder couldn’t handle the hard smash cleanly and was forced to settle for just one out. McPherson followed with his run-scoring single.
That was all the support Dylan Axelrod needed. The Charlotte starter was tremendous in 8.0 shutout innings for the visitors. He scattered three hits on the night and allowed multiple runners to reach base in just one frame while retiring the final 10 batters he faced. He struck out six batters on the night and walked none to pick up his fourth win against one loss.
The Knights added three runs in the 6th inning off reliever Mark Hendrickson. Viciedo hit his 17th home run of the year, a two-run moon blast that landed near the concession stand in left field. McPherson followed with a solo shot to center field.
The Tides and Knights continue their four-game set Wednesday at 7:15. RH Chris Tillman (3-3, 4.17) will take on LH Doug Davis (1-3, 3.00).
