The Norfolk Tides made it two-straight against the Gwinnett Braves Sunday night at Harbor Park with a 3-1 win in front of 4,944 fans.
Ryan Adams delivered the big hit in the second of two games. The second baseman got a hold of an Anthony Varvaro offering and put it just over the wall in right field for a tie-breaking, two-run homer. Varvaro had just entered the game in relief of starter Steven Shell.
Rick VandenHurk (6-12, 4.71) ended his season-high five-game losing streak by tossing 6.0 innings of five-hit, one-run baseball. The righty from the Netherlands struck out four and walked two before giving the ball to newcomer Zach Phillips. His only blemish came in the 3rd inning when he gave up consecutive doubles to Jeff Fiorentino and Wilkin Castillo to leadoff the frame.
Shell (2-2, 2.80) took the loss despite not giving up the game-winning hit. Pitching in a spot start, he lasted 4.1 innings and was charged with two runs on six hits. He served up a ground rule double to Matt Angle with one out in the 5th inning before exiting in favor of Varvaro. Angle came around to score on the Adams home run.
Angle continued his impressive stretch. After going 3-for-5 in the first game Sunday night, the outfielder went 3-for-3 in game two. He is now hitting .418 (33-for-79) over his past 18 games with the Tides.
Jake Fox put the Tides on the board in the 1st inning with an RBI single that scored Kyle Hudson.
Phillips, making his Tides debut after being acquired on July 19 from Texas for Nick Green, tossed a scoreless 7th inning to earn the save.
The victory gave the Tides consecutive wins for the first time since July 2nd and 3rd against Charlotte.
The Tides will go for their first four-game series win since taking 3-of-4 from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre June 28 – July 1 tomorrow. RH Chris Tillman (3-3, 4.17) will take the ball opposite RH Erik Cordier (3-6, 5.13). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15.
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