Britton solid, but Tides fall 3-1
Durham's win - combined with Charlotte's 4-3 victory over Gwinnett - wrapped up the International League South Division title for the Bulls, who now have a 79-47 record, tops in Triple-A.
Tides starter Zach Britton (2-3) turned in a solid outing but took the loss, as he was charged with two runs on three hits in 6.1 innings. With the score tied 1-1, Britton exited the game in favor of Jim Hoey after issuing back-to-back walks with one out in the seventh. J.J. Furmaniak proceeded to steal third base against Hoey to put runners on first and third with one out, and Hoey struck out Fernando Perez for the second out of the frame. However, Hoey uncorked a wild pitch with Desmond Jennings at the plate that allowed Furmaniak to score from third, giving the Bulls a 2-1 lead.
Hoey struck out all five batters he faced in 1.2 innings of work.
Rocco Baldelli extended Durham's lead to 3-1 with a solo homer in the ninth off of Dennis Sarfate. Rocco Baldelli extended Durham's lead to 3-1 with a solo homer in the ninth off of Dennis Sarfate. Baldelli and former Oriole Chris Richard each had two hits apiece, accounting for all of Durham's hits in the contest.
Durham starter Ramon Ortiz was very effective in his Bulls debut, as he held the Tides to one run on four hits in 5.2 innings of work. Ortiz, who was signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent after going 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA in eight starts for Buffalo earlier this year, walked three and struck out three.
Norfolk plated its only run of the contest in the third inning, as Jeff Salazar plated Adam Donachie with a groundout to first base.
The two clubs will continue their seven-game, home-and-home series on Saturday, with first pitch from Harbor Park scheduled for 7:15. Chris Tillman (10-7, 3.51) will take the hill for Norfolk against right-hander Brian Baker (7-4, 3.61).