Exposito's Shot Lifts Tides in 12
July 30, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release
Luis Exposito belted a solo homer with two outs in the 12th inning to power Norfolk to a 7-6 win over the Durham Bulls Monday night at Harbor Park.
With the score knotted a 6-6, Exposito launched the first pitch he saw from Romulo Sanchez (2-2) over the left field wall to give the Tides their second straight one-run win over the Bulls. The homer was Exposito's third of the season and was Norfolk's third walk-off home run of 2012.
Exposito finished with three hits in the contest, while L.J. Hoes reached base in all five of his plate appearances to pace Norfolk's 12-hit attack. Xavier Avery added a three-run triple in Norfolk's five-run second inning.
Zach Fowler (1-0), promoted to Norfolk from Delmarva earlier Monday, earned his first Triple-A victory with two innings of shutout relief.
Tides starter Brian Matusz surrendered six runs - five earned - in six-plus innings of work. Matusz yielded four runs in the second frame, as the Bulls strung together five consecutive singles before an error on Robert Andino gave Durham a 4-0 lead.
Matusz rebounded by keeping the Bulls off the board from the third through sixth innings, but he allowed back-to-back singles to open the seventh inning before departing in favor of Greg Burke. Both of those runners eventually scored, giving the Bulls a 6-5 lead.
Matusz walked one and struck out three, throwing 64 of his 105 pitches for strikes.
Norfolk knotted the score in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Joe Mahoney.
Andino had two singles, a walk and an RBI in five plate appearances before being lifted for a pinch-runner in the ninth inning.
The two clubs will wrap up their four-game set on Tuesday night from Harbor Park, with first pitch set for 7:15. Dana Eveland (3-3, 3.38) will take the mound for Norfolk against left-hander Cesar Ramos (3-3, 2.56).
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