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.
Tide blasts Knights
The Norfolk Tides paid homage to the Independence Weekend Sunday night at Harbor Park by lighting up the scoreboard in an 11-7 win over the Charlotte Knights in front of 8,853 fans.
John Hester put the Tides ahead with a three-run homer in the second inning. Trailing 3-0 to start the frame, the Tides loaded the bases with no outs on two hits and a walk. Nick Green put the home team on the board with an RBI fielder’s choice before John Hester launched a Deunte Heath offering into the left field picnic area.
The Tides put up another four spot in the third inning thanks to another home run, this one from Brendan Harris. Rhyne Hughes got the big inning started by reaching on a dropped third strike and moved to second base when Jake Fox was hit by a pitch. Snyder followed with the first of his three RBI on the night, an RBI single. Tyler Henson then delivered an RBI single of his own ahead of the blast from Harris that gave the home team an 8-4 lead.
The Knights got off to a hot start of their own. Alejandro De Aza led off the game with a home run that landed in the Tides bullpen. The Knights added two more runs in the second inning off a two-run homer by Jordan Danks that gave the Knights a 3-0 lead. Trailing 4-3 in the third inning, De Aza led off the frame with his second home run to tie the game at 4-4.
Snyder added solo home runs in the fifth and seventh inning to increase the Tides advantage. The four home runs hit by the Tides tied a season best for the club. They also hit four home runs against Charlotte on April 18.
Fighting a strong wind to left field, Chris Tillman (3-2, 4.54) labored through 5.0 innings to pick up the win. He gave up five runs on seven hits, three of which went for home runs.
Knights starter Deunte Heath (2-4, 5.73) was charged with nine runs on eight hits in a losing effort. The righthander struck out eight batters on the night.
Matt Angle continued his hot stretch, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Nick Bierbrodt tossed 1.2 innings of relief and allowed a run on two hits. Jeremy Accardo earned his second hold in as many nights after throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Mark Worrell’s streak of 11.0 scoreless innings came to end when he allowed a ninth inning RBI double to Danks. The All-Star closer allowed just the one run in his 1.0 innings of work.
The Tides will travel to Charlotte Monday night for a 7:30 game. The game was originally scheduled for 7:15 but was pushed back to accommodate pre-game festivities. RH Steve Johnson (0-2, 8.49) will get the start for the Tides opposite RH Matt Zaleski (1-4, 7.47).
The Tides will return to Harbor Park on Saturday, July 9 for a two-game series with Durham. The first 2,000 kids 17 & under to enter Harbor Park on July 9 will receive a Tides youth replica jersey compliments of Coke Zero and Fox 43.
Tides earn doubleheader split
Matt Angle got the Norfolk Tides off to a fast start in game two of Saturday night’s double-header, and the Tides earned a split with a 4-0 win over the Charlotte Knights in front of 7,260 fans at Harbor Park
The speedy outfielder, who grounded out to end game one of the double-header, led off game two with a home run off Jhonny Nunez. Angle finished the night a combined 2-for-7 with a home run and is now hitting .315 (52-for-165) with 18 RBI since May 20.
That was all the run support Tides starter Troy Patton needed. Patton (4-1, 2.06) continued his home dominance, allowing no earned runs in 5.0 innings. The lefty lowered his home ERA to 0.40. He has allowed just one run in 22.2 innings this season at Harbor Park.
Jhonny Nunez (2-1, 3.66) took the loss after pitching just 2.0 innings for the Knights. He gave up just the one hit to Angle while walking two and striking out three.
Ryan Adams added two doubles for the Tides, including one in the third inning that scored John Hester for the Tides second run. Adams came around to score in the sixth inning after hitting his second double. Brandon Snyder plated the second baseman with a sacrifice fly
Rhyne Hughes scored the Tides final run on a wild pitch by Gregory Infante in the sixth inning.
Jeremy Accardo and Mark Worrell each tossed a perfect inning of relief to close out the game. Accardo earned a hold for his effort.
The two clubs will play the series finale Sunday at 6:15 p.m. RH Chris Tillman (2-2, 3.82) will try to close out the homestand in style for the Tides opposite RH Deunte Heath (2-3, 4.68). A spectacular post-game fireworks display will follow the game.
Tides rally comes up short
The Norfolk Tides nearly came all the way back from a 9-0 deficit Friday night at Harbor Park before falling to the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees 9-7 in front of 7,496 fans.
Trailing 9-2 in the seventh inning, the Tides put the first three batters on base with two singles and a walk that ran Scranton Wilkes-Barre starter Kel Igawa from the game. Eric Wordekemper retired the first two batters he faced before Tyler Henson lined a single up the middle that scored Matt Angle. Ryan Adams nearly scored on the play from second base, but his run was wiped from the board when Rhyne Hughes was tagged out at third base to end the frame just before Adams crossed the plate.
The Tides added four more runs in the eighth inning, but had a chance to score more. Hughes and Fox hit consecutive two-out RBI singles that moved the score to 9-5. Brandon Snyder followed with an RBI single down the left field line, but the first baseman was caught in a rundown after trying to take second base, and Fox couldn’t score before Snyder was tagged out to end the inning.
The Yankees jumped all over Tides starter Chris George in the first inning, scoring three times before the lefthander retired a batter. Jesus Montero delivered the big blow with a two-run double that plated Dan Brewer and Jordan Parraz. Montero later came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Laird.
The Yankees put up four more runs in the fourth inning before running George from the game. The visitors loaded the bases with no outs on an error by Nick Green and consecutive singles. Austin Krum followed with a sacrifice fly ahead of back-to-back RBI singles by Parraz and Montero. Terry Tiffee, who had an RBI single an inning earlier, plated Parraz with a sacrifice fly.
George (3-4, 4.79) lasted just 3.1 innings and gave up nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits. He walked three batters and struck out none before handing the game over to Cole McCurry.
McCurry kept the visitors at bay. He tossed 3.2 innings of shutout baseball and allowed just two hits. Mark Hendrickson added 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball.
Igawa (1-0, 2.78) labored through 6.0 innings despite being staked to a big lead. He was charged with just three runs but allowed six hits and issued five walks.
The Tides will welcome the Charlotte Knights to Harbor Park Saturday night for a double-header. RH Rick VandenHurk (5-8, 4.64) is scheduled to take the ball in game one against RH Dylan Axlerod (0-0, 1.37). Starters for game two have not yet been announced. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:15. Both games will be seven inning contests. A spectacular fireworks display will follow the conclusion of the second game.
Tides take another from Yankees
The Norfolk Tides scored four runs in the third inning inning Thursday and downed the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees 7-3 in front of 6,008 fans at Harbor Park.
Batting with one out and the bases loaded in a 2-0 ballgame, Rhyne Hughes helped prolong the third inning with his legs. The right fielder hit a sharp ground ball to second base and barely beat out the throw at first, preventing an inning-ending double play and allowing the Tides first run to cross the plate. Brandon Snyder followed with a game-tying RBI single ahead of Ryan Adams’s two-run double that gave the home team the lead for good.
Mitch Atkins (2-3, 3.11) cruised through most of his 6.0 innings on the hill. The righthander allowed just two runs on three hits, all of which came in the second inning. Jesus Montero led off the second inning with a solo home run. Mike Lamb followed with a triple to deep right field, and Brandon Laird knocked him in with a single to left field. Atkins calmed down from there and faced the minimum number of batters in each of the next four innings, despite issuing two walks and hitting a batter.
Adam Warren (6-3, 3.09) lasted 5.0 innings in a losing effort. He was charged with four runs on six hits before ceding the game to Andrew Brackman.
Matt Angle added his third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth inning off Brackman. Brandon Snyder closed out the scoring with an RBI double in the seventh inning.
Three Tides pitchers combined to toss the final 3.0 innings with the only blemish coming on a solo home run by Lamb off Josh Rupe in the seventh inning.
The Tides will go for the sweep Friday night against the Yankees. LH Chris George (3-3, 4.10) gets the ball for Norfolk while Scranton Wilkes-Barre will counter with LH Kel Igawa (0-0, 2.16). A spectacular fireworks show will follow the 7:15 game.
Tides hold off Yanks
Ryan Adams delivered the game-winning double Wednesday night at Harbor Park to push the Norfolk Tides past the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees 2-1 in front of 6,385 fans.
Adams who was just 4-for-31 since rejoining the Tides on June 21 had three hits on the night, but he saved his biggest one for last. With the game tied at 1-1, Adams crushed a ball into the right-centerfield gap that scored Josh Bell from first base. Bell had led off the inning with a single to right field off Josh Schmidt.
In what was a running theme all night, Adams nearly scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning off a single by Matt Angle but was gunned down at home by left fielder Jordan Parraz. It was one of four outfield assists on the night between the two clubs, two from each side. It was also the second time on the night that a Tides base runner was thrown out at home plate.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, the Tides nearly tied the game with a sacrifice fly. John Hester and Angle delivered consecutive one-out singles to give the home team runners at the corners. Tyler Henson followed with a fly out to Greg Golson in right field who came up throwing and nailed Hester at the plate to end the frame. Golson, whose interesting night on the base paths included being picked-off for the second-straight night, had been doubled-off first base on a fly ball to Rhyne Hughes in right field to end the previous half inning.
Jeremy Accardo (1-0, 0.00) pitched 3.0 innings to pick up the win after entering the game to start the seventh inning. The righthander was greeted by a sharp single to left field by Luis Nunez, who then over-slid second base in an attempt to stretch his hit into a double. Accardo cruised from there, allowing just one walk the rest of the way.
Steve Johnson put together his second-straight strong outing for the Tides. The righthander allowed just one run on eight hits through 6.0 innings. His lone blemish came in the second inning when Parraz hit a one-out solo home run that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Tides tied the game in the fifth inning with a one-out RBI single by Matt Angle.
Schmidt (3-2, 2.65) took the loss after allowing one run on four hits during his 2.1 innings on the mound.
Lance Pendleton started the game for Scranton and lasted just 4.0 innings. He gave up a run on six hits.
The same two teams will meet again Thursday at 12:15. RH Mitch Atkins (1-3, 3.12) will try to win the series outright for the Tides opposite RH Adam Warren (6-2, 2.87).
Tides roll past Yanks
Jake Fox went deep twice Tuesday night at Harbor Park to lead the Norfolk Tides past the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees 9-2 in front of 5,688 fans.
The Tides slugger crushed a two-run, two-out homer in the first inning off Yankees starter Greg Smith that gave the Tides a 2-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Matt Angle led off the frame with a single to right field and moved to third on consecutive ground outs by Tides hitters before scoring on the blast.
Tides starter Chris Tillman (2-2, 3.82) was good enough to make the lead hold up. In his finest outing this season with the Tides, the right hander went a season-high 7.0 innings and allowed just one run on five hits. His lone blemish came with two outs in his final frame when he allowed an RBI single to Doug Bernier.
Tyler Henson and Angle delivered consecutive RBI singles in the second inning to double the Tides lead to 4-0.
The home team added three more in the sixth inning, starting with Fox’s second home run of the night, a solo shot to leadoff the frame. A single, a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases for Henson, and the Tides right fielder followed with a hot shot to Luis Nunez at second base. Nunez came up throwing to Jesus Montero at the plate, but the catcher couldn’t hold on to the throw, allowing Josh Bell to slide in safely. Angle then drew a bases loaded walk to increase the Tides lead to 7-0.
In all, the Tides scored seven times off Smith, who had allowed just one earned run through 14.2 innings this season with Scranton heading into the game. Smith (2-1, 3.05) lasted 6.0 innings and was charged with six earned runs. He walked six batters.
Nick Green added a two-run double off Fernando Hernandez in the seventh inning to close out the scoring for the Tides.
Bernier recorded a second RBI with a double in the ninth inning off Jose Diaz that plated Jordan Parraz.
The two clubs will continue their four-game series Wednesday with a 7:15 contest. RH Steve Johnson (0-2, 10.90) will take the ball for the Tides opposite RH Lance Pendleton (2-2, 2.61).
