Big night from Ciuffo carries Tides over Stripers Saturday

Catcher Nick Ciuffo homered and drove in three runs, third baseman Tyler Nevin hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and the Tides (19-25) emerged victorious against the Gwinnett Stripers for the fourth time in five games on Saturday night at Harbor Park.

Tides starter Conner Greene (4.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 5K) worked around three hits and three walks to limit Gwinnett to a pair of runs. He was touched for a home run by Stripers left fielder Jason Kipnis in the top of the first, but settled in to escape the inning without further damage.

Gwinnett’s second run came courtesy of center fielder Cristian Pache, who scored second baseman Ryan Goins on an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth. Greene retired the next two Stripers batters, stranding a runner at third base in the process.

Though Stripers starter Touki Toussaint – pitching for Gwinnett on a Major League rehab assignment from Atlanta – struggled with his control, issuing two walks and hitting two batters with errant pitches, he did not allow a hit or run over his two innings.

With righty Victor Arano pitching in relief of Toussaint in the fourth inning, three consecutive Norfolk batters reached to load the bases for Ciuffo, who proceeded to work one of the best at-bats by a Tides hitter all season. After quickly falling behind in the count 0-2, Ciuffo fouled off five pitches and took another for a ball before lining a base hit to left field to plate two runners and tie the game.

Tides reliever Tyler Joyner, making his Triple-A debut, followed Greene by tossing 2.2 scoreless innings. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed three hits and struck out one in his first appearance with Norfolk.

A pair of hits and a walk in the bottom of the seventh brought Nevin to the plate with one out. He then lifted a fly ball to deep right field, scoring right fielder Seth Mejias-Brean and giving Norfolk its first lead of the game.

Ciuffo connected for a long home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Tides a much needed insurance run.

Norfolk right-hander Claudio Custodio (1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) earned his first win of the season, while fellow righty Eric Hanhold (1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K) recorded his third save.

The Tides and Stripers wrap up their six-game series at 1:05 on Sunday afternoon, with southpaw Kevin Smith making his second start in a Norfolk uniform. Smith, the No. 15 Orioles prospect, will be opposed by Gwinnett’s Jose Rodriguez. The team will then travel to North Carolina for a six-game set with the Charlotte Knights before returning to Harbor Park on July 6