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Tides hand Chiefs 5-3 loss

May 11, 2010
Syracuse, N.Y. - The Norfolk Tides defeated the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, 5-3 Tuesday night at Alliance Bank Stadium. It was the first loss of the homestand for the Chiefs.

After going down in order in the first, the Tides (15-18) gathered a pair of runs off Chiefs starter Chuck James in the second inning. Scott Moore scored the game's first run on an Eric Bruntlett throwing error. Joey Gathright's single later in the inning brought in another run, putting the Tides ahead 2-0.

After a two-run third inning for Norfolk, Syracuse (18-12) came back to score two in the fourth. Mike Morse emptied the bases with a towering home run to left. The home run was Morse's second of the season.

An inning later, shortstop Pedro Lopez blooped a single to right, allowing Devin Ivany to come home for the Chiefs third run of the ball game. The hit was Lopez's first since being called up by Double-A Harrisburg at the start of the week.

Justin Turner gave Norfolk an insurance run in the eighth by sliding in ahead of Mike Morse's throw to the plate. Turner had reached base on a single earlier in the inning.

Syracuse managed three hits all night off of Norfolk pitching. Chris George started the game for the Tides, allowing a pair of runs in his four innings of work. Armando Gabino got the win, working the fifth, sixth and seventh innings for Norfolk. Chuck James picked up his first loss of the season, leaving the game after 3 1/3 innings. The Syracuse starter allowed six hits and four runs during his 59-pitch outing. The Chiefs' staff combined for 11 strikeouts in the losing effort.

Syracuse and Norfolk will play game three of their four game series Wednesday night. Stephen Strasburg will make his second start for the Chiefs (1-0,0.00) and lefty Troy Patton (2-3, 5.40) will go for the Tides. First pitch will be at 7:00.