Tides prevail; Durham closes in on division title

Staff report

Jeff Fiorentino and Luis Hernandez hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie Monday night and help the Norfolk Tides beat the Charlotte Knights 4-1 in Fort Mill, S.C.

The game was stopped in the eighth inning by rain.

Norfolk lefthander Craig Anderson (8-7) allowed seven hits and one run - a solo homer by Royce Huffman - in 6 1/3 innings.

The Tides added runs in the sixth, on Luis Terrero's sacrifice fly, and in the eighth, on Mike Costanzo's RBI single, to snap a three-game losing streak.

Freddie Bynum scored twice for Norfolk (63-73).

Durham beat Indianapolis 9-8 in 10 innings Monday to reduce the Bulls' magic number for clinching the International League's South Division title to one.

Norfolk trails Durham (70-67) by 6-1/2 games with seven to play.

The teams conclude their four-game series at 7:15 tonight. Righthander Ryan Bukvich (8-3, 4-20 ERA) will pitch for Norfolk against Charlotte righty Tomo Okha (5-11, 4.01).

The Tides return to Norfolk on Wednesday for their final four home games of the season - two each against Durham and Richmond.

They'll finish the season with two games in Richmond.