The Hens began their four-game series with the Norfolk Tides with a 5-1 loss on Friday night.

The Tides struck early with back-to-back singles to open up the game. Lew Ford followed by grounding into a 4-6-3 double play, allowing leadoff hitter Xavier Avery to score from third to give the Tides a 1-0 lead.

Avery scored again for the Tides in the sixth, this time without help, after he smashed his sixth homer of the year to make it 2-0 Norfolk. The Tides scored again in each of the last three innings to make it 5-1.

Despite the loss, Thad Weber had a good showing, throwing 7.1 innings for the Hens while allowing four runs on ten hits. Weber walked none and struck out two.

The Hens nearly matched the Tides for hits, but only had one run to show after leaving eight men on base. The lone run came across in the seventh after Cale Iorg doubled to knock in Bryan Holaday for his first RBI of the season.

Both teams are set for game two of the series tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Lefty Andy Oliver is scheduled to start for the Hens against former Tiger Dontrelle Willis.

Game Notes

• Bryan Holaday went 4-for-4 with a run scored in his return to the Hens lineup after playing four games with Detroit.
• Thad Weber has allowed at least one homer in each of his last six starts.
• The crowd of 10,700 was 9th sellout at Fifth Third Field this season.