Green plates career-high seven runs

Nick Green has had plenty of experiences on the baseball diamond, but never one like he did on Friday.

The Major League veteran went 3-for-6 with a pair of homers and a career-high seven RBIs, leading the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to a 17-2 rout of the Durham Bulls.

Green's previous career high was five RBIs for Triple-A Tacoma on Aug. 23, 2007.

The Orioles farmhand hit the ground running, taking the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall in the second inning. He roped a two-run single to left in the third before lining out and flying out in his next to at-bats.

With the Tides up, 9-2, in the ninth, Durham sent catcher Craig Albernaz to the mound, leading to an eight-run frame for Norfolk. Green contributed one of three longballs in the inning, knocking in three to set a new career mark.

The 32-year-old, who has played in the Majors with the Braves, Rays, Yankees, Mariners, Red Sox, Dodgers and Blue Jays, is 8-for-16 with four homers and 10 RBIs over his last four games. He's raised his batting average 18 points to .211.

Selected by the Braves in the 32nd round of the 1998 Draft, Green has spent time with 10 different organizations during his career. This season with Norfolk, he has 10 homers and 43 RBIs in 80 games.

Ryan Adams and Josh Bell also contributed heavily for the Tides, combining for two homers, two doubles, seven RBIs and four runs scored.

Cole McCurry (1-0) earned his first win after tossing three shutout innings in relief of starter Chris Tillman, who pitched two frames.

Bulls starter Brian Baker (6-6) surrendered seven runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings.