McLouth, Norfolk Tip Syracuse 4-3
July 3, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release
Nate McLouth homered for the second straight game to help the Tides edge the Syracuse Chiefs 4-3 in front of 8,514 fans Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
After hitting a walk-off homer Monday, McLouth powered Norfolk to a win with a two-run shot in the fifth that gave the Tides a 3-1 lead. McLouth has now hit safely in four straight games, batting .400 (6-for-15) with two homers and seven RBI over that span.
With the win, the Tides completed a four-game home sweep of Syracuse for the first time since July of 1991. The win also put Norfolk (44-43) over the .500 mark for the first time since the Tides were 2-1 in April, 2010.
Four different pitchers appeared in the game for the Tides, who were short-handed due to the impending promotion of Chris Tillman and the retirement of Dontrelle Willis.
J.C. Romero started the game to become the 20th different starting pitcher used by Norfolk in 2012. Romero allowed one run over 2.2 innings before giving way to Oscar Villarreal (3-2), who earned the win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Chiefs plated two runs in the eighth inning, as Corey Brown and Jarrett Hoffpauir hit one-out singles off of Greg Burke before coming around to score against Pat Neshek. Neshek recovered to strike out Chris Marrero and Brett Carroll to end the eighth inning threat, then worked a perfect ninth to register his ninth save of the season.
Neshek has not allowed an earned run since May 29 - a span of 12 appearances covering 14.1 innings. Over that stretch he's struck out 21 while walking one and yielding six hits.
Steve Tolleson and Blake Davis each had two hits in the win, while Joe Mahoney added an RBI double.
The Tides will travel to Durham Wednesday to kick off their final road trip of the first half. IL All-Star Jason Berken (1-2, 2.99) will take the hill for Norfolk against Bulls right-hander Jim Paduch (4-6, 5.31).
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