Norfolk Splits Series With Durham After 14-5 Defeat

NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk Tides (11-7) lost to the Durham Bulls (7-11), 14-5, in Sunday’s series finale, to split the six-game set.

The Tides immediately grabbed the lead in the first, when Richie Martin launched his first home run of the year, on the first pitch he saw, to put Norfolk up 1-0. Robert Neustrom would draw walk with the bases loaded five batters later to make it 2-0. Neustrom has now had RBI-walks in consecutive contests.

After the Bulls tied the game at 2-2 in their half of the third, Neustrom put the Tides ahead again with a two-run blast, his third of the year.

But Durham would respond with six runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run homer from Johnathan Aranda, and two more in the fifth to make it 10-4. Durham would score four more times the rest of the way, with David Rodriguez also going deep for the Bulls in the eighth to make it 14-5.

Tyler Nevin went 3-for-4, making it three-straight games with three hits. He is the only player in the International League this season to have such a streak.

Cole Uvila worked a scoreless ninth inning, running his scoreless streak to 7.0 innings, spanning seven games. Over 27 total batters faced this season, Uvila has not allowed a hit or a run.

Norfolk enjoys an off day tomorrow before setting out on a season-long 12-game road trip. They will be back in action on Tuesday taking on the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.

POSTGAME NOTES

❖ TYLER THREE HITS: Tyler Nevin went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and a walk in today’s contest...he has three hits in three-straight games and has nine total during that span...he is the only player in the International League this season to have three-straight games with at least three hits...he now has six multi-hit performances this season, the most on Tides...he now leads Norfolk with 21 hits this season...Jace Peterson was the last Tides batter to have such a streak, set in 2019.

❖ TIDES DIG THE LONG BALL: The Tides have homered twice in each of the last four games of this series, bringing their season total to 25...they are on pace to hit 208 home runs this season, which would shatter the franchise record of 151, set in 1971.

❖ THE BEARDED COLE UVILA: Cole Uvila worked a scoreless ninth inning in today’s contest. In 7.0 innings of work this season, spanning seven games, Uvila has not allowed a run or a hit in 27 batters faced.

❖ SIDE NOTES: The Tides pitching staff walked 10 batters tonight, a season-high...Norfolk falls to 1-5 in day games, including 0-4 at home...today was just their second loss in eight games when wearing the green jerseys.