Tides overmatch Hens, take first of four in Toledo
The Hens are still searching for their first win over Norfolk in 2013 after falling 10-1 Tuesday night for their fifth loss to the Tides this season.
The Mud Hens struck first after Danny Worth drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring home Mike Cervenak and give Toledo the first inning lead. Norfolk drew the score even in the third after a Shawn Hill balk proved costly, moving Chris Dickerson to second who later scored on a Yamaico Navarro single in the inning.
The Tides broke the game open in the fifth with two runs off Hill to take a 3-1 lead. Norfolk led off the inning with three straight hits capped off by an RBI single from Xavier Avery. The next batter, Dickerson, then grounded into a double play, but not before Alex Liddi scored to give the Tides the two-run lead.
Norfolk added an insurance run in the sixth when Danny Valencia scored on a Jonathan Schoop single to chase Hill from the game and give the Tides the 4-1 advantage. Hill took the loss for the first time in four starts since coming off the disabled list on July 27 after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits over 5 1/3 innings.
After Darin Downs and Evan Reed tossed scoreless innings of relief, Jon Link surrendered six runs in the ninth to make it a 10-1 insurmountable lead in favor of the Tides.
The Hens will look to right the ship and pick up their first win of the season against Norfolk tomorrow at 7:00 p.m at Fifth Third Field. LHP Blaine Hardy (4-1, 2.19 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toledo.