Tides beat Clippers, clinch series win

The Tides used a 17 hit attack to dispatch the Clippers 8-4 at Harbor Park.

Norfolk would jump to an early lead in this game thanks to a big third inning. L.J. Hoes began the scoring with a two run single to right. After Yamaico Navarro drove home a run with an RBI single, Brandon Waring sent a ball down the left field line, plating two more runs for the Tides. After three innings, Norfolk possessed a 5-0 advantage.

Chun Chen blasted a solo homer into the left bleachers to get Columbus on the board in the top of the fourth. Other than that, Tides righty Daniel McCutchen held the Columbus bats in check, limiting the Clippers to one run on four hits through five innings of work.

Zelous Wheeler later added a solo homer for the Tides in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth, Hoes plated another run with an RBI single and Brandon Waring forced home a run with a bases loaded walk.

Despite a Matt Carson three run bomb in the ninth, Columbus came up short against the Tides, allowing Norfolk to take three of four en route to a series win over the Clippers. McCutchen (W, 1-1) picked up his first win of the season for the Tides. Lefty T.J. House (L, 1-8) was hit with the loss for Columbus.

Columbus will leave Norfolk and head south to Durham, North Carolina to begin a four game series with the Bulls. The Clippers will have righty Joe Martinez (2-6, 6.23) be their starter on the mound. Durham will counter with right-hander Jake Odorizzi (5-1, 3.41). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.