Tuesday night at Harbor Park: Toledo 2, Tides 1 (11 innings)

A strong pitching performance by Norfolk starter Andy Mitchell was wasted Tuesday, and so was another opportunity to gain ground on Durham in the International League South Division standings.

Mitchell tossed seven innings and allowed three hits, but the Tides' offense sputtered before their defense cost them a game. An error by Mike Costanzo on a hard line drive hit by Jeff Larish allowed Clete Thomas to score the winning run for the Mud Hens in the 11th inning.

"That was a tough one to lose," Norfolk manager Gary Allenson said.

Back home

Before this week, the last time Clay Rapada remembers pitching at Harbor Park was when he was playing for a local American Legion team.

The Portsmouth native returned Tuesday as a member of the Toledo Mud Hens, completing a strange journey that has included stints in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Against the Tides (61-69), he pitched 1u2153 innings and allowed only one hit.

If you’re having a hard time remembering Rapada, there would be good reason. He wasn’t a heralded prospect coming out of high school. He had a fastball that topped out at 81 mph, and he had few options for playing in college. But upon signing with Virginia State after graduating from Deep Creek in 1999, Rapada gained weight, began throwing harder and watched his career trajectory change.

“I wasn’t thinking long-term,” said Rapada, a lefthanded reliever with a sidearm delivery who signed with the Cubs in 2002. “The only plan for me was to go to school and get my degree.”

Now, baseball is his life. This year with Toledo, he is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA.

And on Tuesday, friends, family and members of his church all were expected to be in attendance to see the hometown kid few anticipated would still be playing the game he loved.

“I didn’t take the straightest road,” said Rapada, 27.

Off track

It wasn’t too long ago that Dontrelle Willis was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He won 22 games and was a runner-up for the National League Cy Young Award in 2005. But three years later, Willis is in the minor leagues, trying to rediscover the formula that made him a phenom. His next opportunity to resurrect his career comes tonight, when he faces the Tides.

Willis did not talk to reporters about his situation, but he has been having trouble controlling his pitches and his problems are directly related to his windup, which features an exaggerated leg kick.

“That delivery may have helped him early and hurt him late,” Toledo manager Larry Parrish said.

In five games with Detroit this season, Willis’ ERA ballooned to 10.32 before he was relegated to the minors, and there is no sign he will return to the Tigers soon.

“It’s been a tough year for him,” Parrish said. “It’s been a battle.”

Extra bases

Baltimore closer George Sherrill was placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his left shoulder, and Tides reliever Kam Mickolio is the beneficiary. Mickolio was recalled by the Orioles on Tuesday after pitching in 15 games and posting a 1.50 ERA with no decisions.