Tides fall to Durham 3-1 despite solid start

By Ray Nimmo

In the five game home-and-home series against Durham that wrapped up Sunday afternoon, the Tides racked up 67 hits, 10 home runs and nine doubles, and they even outscored the Bulls 35-32. Yet the Tides won just one of those games. Despite a solid start from recently demoted Brian Matusz, making his third start for the team, the Tides fumbled away another game Sunday, losing to the Bulls 3-1 at Harbor Park.

Matusz

Matusz struck out six, gave up two earned runs, six hits and three walks but was taken out after 5¹/³ innings with his pitch count at 104.

He left the game with a 1-0 lead and two runners on base. Durham catcher Robinson Chirinos then doubled off reliever Nick Bierbrodt, and both runners scored.

Still, it was a better outing for Matusz than his last Tides start – against Charlotte – when he gave up four earned runs and struck out three.

“I’m making improvement,” said Matusz, a 24-year-old left-hander. “I’m getting better every time. For me, I need to feed off being consistent like that.”

Matusz noted he wants to be more consistent with his fastball down in the zone and to be able to throw breaking pitches with conviction.

“It’s the whole process of working back into being comfortable on the mound,” Matusz said.

Lacking a Finisher

For a Tides team that hovers at the bottom of most offensive categories, seeing the recent boom in hits should be a bright spot.

But against the Tides pitching staff, Durham came from behind in four of the five games.

“It’s a combination of not being able to get out of an inning with guys on base, and we’re just not getting a two-out hit or a nice little single with runners in scoring position,” Tides manager Gary Allenson said.

Norfolk was 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position Sunday.

“I don’t know if guys are trying to do too much – hit a home run, be a hero,” he said. “You’ve got to be a little smarter and realize what a pitcher is trying to do to you.”

All-Star Break

Tides closer Mark Worrell headed for the Triple-A All-Star game in Salt Lake City a couple of hours after Sunday’s game ended.

Worrell has 12 saves and 30 strikeouts in 35 ¹/³ innings.

“I felt like I did a good job (so far this season),” Worrell said. “I feel honored to represent the Tides at the All-Star game.”

Worrell expects to pitch “probably an inning” in Wednesday’s game. He’ll then meet up with the Tides at Gwinnett on Thursday.

Injuries

Brandon Snyder and Rhyne Hughes, both bothered by injuries, got the day off. Snyder tweaked a hamstring in Saturday’s game against Durham. Allenson was hopeful he could have both players back right after the All-Star break.