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Rocky first inning too much as Norfolk falls, 5-3

August 3, 2010
The Indianapolis Indians plated four runs in the first inning, then held on for a 5-3 win over the Tides Tuesday afternoon at Harbor Park.

Indy touched up Norfolk starter Chris Tillman (8-7) for four runs on six hits in the first frame, with Pedro Ciriaco, Brandon Moss and John Bawker each contributing run-scoring hits.

Tillman settled down after the rocky first, yielding three hits in four shutout innings. He finished his afternoon with two walks and four strikeouts, but is now 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts for the Tides after being optioned from Baltimore on July 20.

Indy starter Jeremy Powell (8-7) was superb before running into trouble in the sixth. Powell retired the first 15 batters he faced before Brandon Snyder reached via walk to leadoff the sixth and Michel Hernandez followed with a single to break up the no-hit bid. Norfolk got a sacrifice fly by Jeff Salazar and run-scoring singles from Matt Angle and Robert Andino in the frame to pull within 4-3.

The Indians tacked on a run in the eighth on an RBI single by Luke Carlin, but Norfolk threatened in the bottom half of the inning by loading the bases with one-out against newly acquired reliever Joe Martinez. Martinez escaped the threat, however, by inducing an inning ending double play grounder off the bat of Scott Moore to keep the Tribe's two-run lead.

Martinez, who worked three scoreless innings of relief, then retired the Tides in order in the ninth to pick up the save.

The loss snapped Norfolk's three-game winning streak, which was the seventh time this season the Tides have won three in a row. Norfolk has yet to register four victories in a row this year. The Tides will enjoy an off day Wednesday before heading to Louisville Thursday for the start of an eight-game road trip. Chris George (5-4, 3.88) will make the start for Norfolk against right-hander Micah Owings (0-0, 2.57), with first pitch scheduled for 7:05.