Late rally lifts Tides past Columbus in series opener
Norfolk plated five runs on six hits in the eighth inning to rally past the Columbus Clippers 6-3 in front of 5,410 fans Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
Trailing 3-1 entering the eighth, Norfolk sent 11 men to the plate against relievers Matt Langwell (3-2) and Preston Guilmet to take the win in the opener of the four-game set. The Tides loaded the bases with nobody out, as Chris Snyder singled, Xavier Avery walked and Brian Roberts singled to center. L.J. Hoes then sliced a line drive double down the right field line, plating Snyder and Avery to tie the score and chase Langwell from the contest.
Guilmet was summoned from the bullpen and retired Jason Pridie on a popup for the first out of the frame before he issued an intentional walk to Russ Canzler, loading the bases for Buck Britton. Britton, who had been held hitless in his three previous at-bats, lined a go-ahead single to center field, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 21 games while giving Norfolk a 4-3 advantage. Zelous Wheeler and Brandon Wood then followed with opposite field singles to give the Tides a 6-3 lead.
Jairo Asencio struck out two in a perfect ninth to register the save, his league-leading 17th of the season.
Tides starter Josh Stinson turned in an impressive effort, allowing three runs on three hits in a season-high seven innings of work. Stinson, who walked two and struck out three, retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced, including each of the last eight.
Roberts finished 2-for-4 with a double, single and two runs scored in his first rehab game with Norfolk. He also handled all three defensive opportunities flawlessly at second base, including a tough backhanded play up the middle that denied Nate Spears of a second inning single.
The win was Norfolk's first at home since June 1, snapping a franchise record-tying 10-game losing streak at Harbor Park. The Tides had previously lost 10 straight at home during the 1994 season.
The two clubs will continue their four-game series Wednesday night at Harbor Park, with first pitch slated for 7:05. Jair Jurrjens (5-4, 3.89) will make the start for Norfolk against Clippers right-hander Danny Salazar (1-2, 4.91).
Notes: Mark Hendrickson (1-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning, his first victory since July 17, 2011 when he earned a victory for Baltimore vs. Cleveland…Britton's 21-game hitting streak is tied for the third-longest in Tides franchise history, three games shy of a 24-game streak put together by Gregg Jefferies during the 1988 season…Zelous Wheeler had two hits to extend his hitting streak to seven games…The win was Norfolk's seventh this season when trailing after seven innings…L.J. Hoes had two hits to extend his hitting streak to six games, and he's posted a .494 on-base percentage over his last 17 contests…Both the Tides and Orioles used five-run rallies to win 6-3 Tuesday night. Baltimore defeated Cleveland, while Norfolk bested Columbus, an Indians affiliate.