Mud Hens complete sweep of Norfolk
Brian Matusz couldn’t stop the Toledo Mud Hens Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park, and the Norfolk Tides were swept with an 11-3 defeat in front of 5,656 fans.
Matusz (0-3, 4.72) lasted just 3.2 innings, his shortest outing of the year after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits. The former first round draft pick ran into trouble in the 2nd inning after allowing the first three batters to reach base. Ben Guez put the visitors on the board with an RBI single. One out later, Max St. Pierre increased the lead with a bases loaded, RBI single of his own. The Mud Hens added two more runs in the frame on an error by Brendan Harris and a sacrifice fly by Argenis Diaz.
Jake Fox did his best to bring the Tides back, knocking a three-run homer in the 3rd inning that brought the home team to within 5-3, but the troubles for Matusz continued before he was run from the game after allowing an RBI single to Danny Worth in the 4th inning.
Nick Bierbrodt didn’t fare much better in relief of Matusz. Following an RBI single from Guez, Clete Thomas crushed a three-run homer off the bottom of the scoreboard in right-center field that broke the game open for Toledo.
Brayan Villarreal (2-5, 4.68) kept the Tides off balance all afternoon and allowed just three batters to reach scoring position. He lasted 6.0 innings and gave up three runs on five hits.
Will Startup served up a home run to Guez on the first pitch he tossed in the 6th inning. It was the only hit Startup allowed in 2.0 innings. Jose Diaz and Jeremy Accardo each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
The Tides will welcome Gwinnett to town Friday night at 7:15 for the start of a four-game series. RH Mitch Atkins (2-3, 3.11) will take the ball for Norfolk opposite RH Todd Redmond (6-8, 3.24).
The first 2,000 kids 17 & under will receive a Norfolk Tides Baseball Card Set (1-of-3) compliments of John’s Tax Service. Former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor will also make an appearance to sign autographs for fans throughout the game.
Tides drop 4-3 decision to Toledo
The Norfolk Tides dug themselves an early hole Wednesday night at Harbor Park before falling to the Toledo Mud Hens 4-3 in front of 4,162 fans.
Chris Tillman (3-3, 4.17) nearly didn’t make it out of the 1st inning after surrendering four-straight two-out hits that led to four runs from the visitors. Jeff Salazar put the visitors ahead with an RBI single that plated Argenis Diaz. The Mud Hens added a second run on a double steal that saw Timo Perez successfully steal home after Adam Donachie threw down to second base. Hits by Danny Worth and Clete Thomas added the other two runs for Toledo.
Tillman settled down after the early trouble, retiring 11 consecutive batters before giving up a one-out single in the 6th inning. His night ended after 6.0 innings. He was charged with four runs (three earned) and gave up nine hits. He also struck out four batters and walked one.
As Tillman settled in, the Tides closed the gap. Brandon Snyder scored the home team’s first run on a wild pitch from starter Adam Wilk in the 4th inning. Norfolk added two more runs in the 5th inning on a Jake Fox RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Snyder. The Tides put the tying run in scoring position on five separate occasions after cutting the lead to a run but couldn’t produce a big hit.
Ryan Perry (3-0, 1.69) earned the win in relief after Wilk didn’t go the necessary 5.0 innings to qualify. The reliever tossed 2.0 shutout innings but twice stranded the tying run at second base. He allowed two hits on the night and walked one while striking out two.
Chance Ruffin earned his seventh save of the season by tossing a shaky 9th inning. The closer gave up consecutive singles to leadoff the final frame, but Snyder grounded into a double play that turned the momentum and Robbie Widlansky struck out to the end the game.
The same two teams will play the finale Thursday afternoon at 12:15. LH Brian Matusz (0-2, 2.74) will try to salvage the series for the Tides opposite RH Brayan Villarreal (1-5, 4.70).
A blood drive will be held in the Harbor Park parking lot Thursday from 10:00-3:00. Fans that give blood will be rewarded with a free Tides ticket that can be used anytime this season.
Toledo rolls Tides
Rick VandenHurk gave up two home runs Tuesday night at Harbor Park, and the Norfolk Tides fell 7-1 to the Toledo Mud Hens in front of 5,950 fans.
VandenHurk (5-12, 4.88) pitched well for much of the night before running into trouble in the 7th inning. The pitcher from the Netherlands, who went into the night having allowed nine 7th inning runs in 2.0 innings this year, continued to have bad fortunes in the frame. He gave up a leadoff single to Danny Worth and followed that by hitting Ben Guez with a pitch. Max St. Pierre made VandenHurk pay for the mistake one out later with a three-run homer to left field that gave the visitors a 5-1 lead and ended his night.
The Mud Hens added two more runs in the frame off reliever Will Startup. Making his first appearance with the Tides after being transferred from Delmarva earlier in the day, Startup walked the first two batters he faced and gave up a single to Timo Perez to load the bases. Jeff Salazar then hit a two-out, two-strike single to center field that plated a pair and closed out the scoring.
Fu-Te Ni (5-0, 3.20) wasn’t overpowering during his 7.0 innings on the mound but kept the Tides at bay by making pitches when he needed to. He allowed the Tides leadoff batter to reach base in each of the first four innings but came away surrendering just one run off a Ryan Adams homer in the 1st inning. He allowed eight hits on the night and struck out four batters.
Ryan Strieby put the Mud Hens on the board first with a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning off VandenHurk. The Tides starter then retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced.
The two clubs will resume their four-game series Wednesday night at 7:15. RH Chris Tillman (3-2, 4.12) will take the ball for the Tides. LH Duane Below (9-4, 3.13) is scheduled to take the ball for Toledo.
Norfolk walks 12 in 9-3 loss to Mud Hens
The Norfolk Tides pitchers had difficulty finding the strike zone Monday night at Harbor Park, and the Toledo Mud Hens walked to a 9-3 win in front of 4,335 fans.
The Tides pitching staff issued a season-high 12 walks on the night, eight of which came in the final three innings of the contest when the visitors pulled away.
Pitching to a 4-3 deficit in the 7th inning, Nick Bierbrodt issued three-straight one-out walks before being relieved in favor of Josh Rupe. Ben Guez greeted Rupe with an RBI single. A double-play off the bat off of Clete Thomas got the Portsmouth native out of the inning, but the Tides found themselves in more trouble in the 8th inning.
Rupe started the frame for the home team and immediately served up a ground rule double to Cale Iorg. Following a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Argenis Diaz increased the lead for Toledo with a single up the middle that scored Iorg. Rupe then loaded the bases by walking Jeff Salazar and followed with another walk to Ryen Strieby that scored a run. Rupe’s night ended one batter later when he gave up a two-run single to Scott Thorman.
The night started ominously for the home team as starting pitcher Steve Johnson gave up three runs on four hits in the first inning. The right-hander settled down from there, giving the Tides a chance to tie the game by retiring 14-of-15 batters before surrendering a leadoff single to Thorman in the 6th inning. Johnson followed by walking Clete Thomas and issuing a single to Cale Iorg that loaded the bases. He was pulled from the game in favor of Bierbrodt who promptly allowed the go-ahead run to score on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Jeff Kunkel.
Johnson (0-4, 6.81) was charged with four runs in 5.1 innings. He struck out six batters but walked four.
The Tides came back from their early deficit by scoring a run in the 2nd inning and two in the 5th inning. Newcomer Robbie Widlansky cracked a two-out RBI double that scored Brandon Snyder in the 2nd inning. Jake Fox then collected an RBI single in the 5th inning ahead of Snyder’s sacrifice fly.
Thad Weber (5-6, 5.61) picked up the win by tossing 6.0 innings and allowing just the three runs. He gave up six hits and struck out one batter while walking three.
The 12 walks issued by the Tides were a season high.
The Tides will host Toledo again Tuesday night at Harbor Park. RH Rick VandenHurk (5-11, 4.74) will take the ball opposite LH Fu-Te Ni (4-0, 3.47). First pitch is set for 7:15.
Gates for the game will open at 5:00 as a pre-game concert featuring “Lost Then Found” will run from 5:15-6:45. The concert is a part of the Tides “All Faith Night” presented by Regent University.
