Defense dooms Tides in 8-6 loss
The game was tied 2-2 entering the sixth inning, but a three-run homer by former Tide J.R. House off of Norfolk starter Chris George gave the Bisons a 5-2 advantage.
Norfolk battled back and took the lead an inning later, as the Tides sent nine men to the plate and collected seven hits in the frame. Jeff Salazar knotted the game with a two-out, two-run homer, and Brandon Snyder later followed with an RBI single into right field that gave the Tides a 6-5 advantage.
Norfolk's lead was short-lived, however, as the Bisons plated two unearned runs in the eighth to reclaim the lead. With one out and runners on first and second, Snyder made an errant throw on a force attempt grounder off the bat of Jesus Feliciano, loading the bases. Justin Turner then followed with a potential inning-ending double play grounder, but Robert Andino had the ball go under his glove and into left-center field, scoring two runs and giving Buffalo the lead.
Bisons reliever Adam Pettyjohn then kept the Tides off the board with two shutout innings of relief, sending Norfolk to its fifth straight defeat.
Rhyne Hughes, Snyder and Michel Hernandez each collected three hits apiece in the contest, with Hernandez adding two runs batted in.
Zach Clark (0-1) suffered the loss for the Tides in his first outing of the season after he was promoted from Double-A Bowie earlier Sunday. Clark allowed three runs - one earned - in 2.1 innings of work.
Norfolk and Buffalo will conclude their four-game series on Monday afternoon, with first pitch from Harbor Park scheduled for 12:15. Troy Patton (3-7, 5.73) will take the hill for Norfolk against former Tide Bobby Livingston (2-5, 4.18).