Josh Bell smashes a three run homer in the 1st inning
And after a drought the hits came and with them the runs and with them the wins. The Norfolk Tides appear to have snapped out of their hitting funk and like a like a battleship are now plowing through the waves and blasting whatever appears on their radar. In the past two games, actually the past 16 innings the Norfolk Tides have scored 24 runs on 25 hits.
Justin Turner slams a 3 run double
After a bad slump where it seemed nothing went right offensively the Tides have managed to put hits together and get the all important big hits to break the backs of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the Toledo Mud Hens in back to back 12 run offensive displays that featured 6 home runs.
Scott Moore safe sliding into home after Justin Turner’s 3 RBI double
After taking their first day off since the season began the Tides following the thrashing that they gave the Yankees the team came back and on what was an initially a warm and humid night pounded the Mud Hens with another ferocious offensive display. The Tides wasted no time in putting runs on the board. Following a ground out by Robert Andino grounded out to short and the avalanche began and the Tides began to light up the Hens like a Kenny Rogers Roaster on a rotisserie. Joey Gathright who changed his number from 10 to 7 in the classic baseball superstition of doing anything to break a slump bunted for a single. Corey Patterson singled to left to move Gathright to second and up came Josh Bell who is rapidly becoming a major hitting threat in the IL south. Bell who had three home runs in Charlotte and has continued making key hits during this home stand hammered the second pitch by Toledo starter Armando Galarraga over the right field wall to give the Tides a three run 1st inning lead.
Chris George threw 5 strong innings but got a no decsion
With the early lead Tides starter Chris George went to work setting the Mud Hens down in order in the 1st and 2nd innings and allowing a single in the 3rd before working a pick off play to cut down the runner attempting to steal 2nd.
The Tides struck again with another crooked score in the 3rd inning. With one out Joey Gathright singled on an infield hit to second. Corey Patterson struck out swinging and the Galarraga gave up walks to Josh Bell and Scott Moore. This brought Justin Turner to the plate and Turner doubled on a deep fly ball to center field which drove in all three Tides base runners. Chris George went back on the mound and after getting the first two Mud Hens runners off base with a double play gave up two runs on two hits. In the bottom of the 4th Michael Aubrey took a one ball one strike pitch from Galarraga and pounded it for a lead off home run. George was tapped for 3 runs in the top of the 5th with two the result of an error by right fielder Michael Aubrey which occurred on a routine fly with two outs.
Michael Aubrey slams a solo shot in the 4th inning
Toledo sent Robby Weinhardt to the mound in relief of Galarraga in the 5th and the Tides sent Armando Gabino to relieve Chris George in the 6th. Both Weinhardt and Gabino pitched scoreless innings until Weinhardt came out in the 7th and Gabino in the 8th. Fien pitched a score 7th and was relieved in the bottom of the 8th by Jason Waddell.
The Tides sent the left hander Pedro Viola in to relieve Gabino in the top of the 8th. Viola walked the left handed batter Jeff Larish and was pulled by Manager Gary Allenson for the big right hander Kam Mickolio. Mickolio has struggled this year especially after his return from Baltimore. Jeff Frazier doubled off of Mickolio and then the big man walked Casper Wells to load the bases with no outs. Clete Thomas grounded into a force play to score Jeff Larish. Thomas then stole second and advanced to third on a single by Robinzon Diaz which scored Frazier. Mickolio was able to retire the next two batters end the inning but not before the damage had been done and the game was tied 7-7.
The Tides did not take this lying down exploding for 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th. With Jason Waddell now on the mound Corey Paterson singled to start the inning. Josh Bell flied out to right but Patterson took second. Scott Moore doubled to bring Patterson home and then Waddell walked Justin Turner and Blake Davis replaced Scott Moore as a pinch runner at second. Brandon Snyder walked to load the bases. With one out Michael Aubrey hit a sacrifice fly on which Davis scored, Justin Turner advanced to third and Brandon Snyder took second on a throwing error by center fielder Caspar Wells. Adam Donachie walked to load the bases yet again. Robert Andino then split the right center gap and doubled to score both Turner and Snyder. Finally Joey Gathright grounded out to end the inning.
Justin Turner and Brandon Snyder already across and Adam Donachie coming home on Robert Andino’s 3 RBI double in the bottom of the 8th
Jim Miller came in with a five run lead in a non-save situation. He allowed two base hits but surrendered no runs and the Tides were able to celebrate with another win in which they scored 12 runs. Kam Mickolio got a blown save but the win while Chris George got the no-decision on a game that save for two out error in the top of the 5th the blown save by Mickolio that he should have won. Jason Waddell got the loss for Toledo.
Jim Miller closes the deal Tides win 12-7
The teams will meet again tonight at Harbor Park where Toledo’s Enrique Gonzalez will match up against Troy Patton of the Tides. As for other news and notes Koji Uehara ended his rehab and was promoted to Baltimore and Alberto Castillo optioned back to Norfolk. The Orioles defeated the Twins in their first appearance at Target Field by a score of 2-0 with Brad Bergeson pitching 6 scoreless innings for his second win of the season. Tonight’s Orioles and Twins game has been postponed due to rain and will be made up in a double header on Saturday.
Peace and see you at the ball park.
Padre Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 