The Tides were held to just three hits as they dropped a 1-0 decision to the Durham Bulls in front of 4,464 fans at Harbor Park Tuesday night.
Three Bulls pitchers combined on the gem, with Cesar Ramos (4-3) earning the win after yielding two hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. Ryan Reid followed Ramos with 1.1 innings of relief, while Frank de los Santos worked the final two frames to register his first save of the season.
Tides starter Dana Eveland (3-4) was the tough-luck loser in his first outing since being outrighted from Baltimore on July 29. Eveland allowed one run on six hits in six innings of work, as he walked three and struck out six. The only run he surrendered came in the third inning, when Rich Thompson led off the frame with a single, stole second, and scored on a single by Chris Gimenez.
Blake Davis had two of Norfolk’s three hits, while Bill Hall added a single and a walk. Ronny Paulino went hitless in the contest, snapping his hitting streak at 14 games.
With the win, the Bulls salvaged a split of the four-game series. Norfolk (56-56) has now completed 30 series this season, winning 10, losing 10 and splitting 10.
After an off day on Wednesday, the Tides will welcome the Columbus Clippers to Harbor Park for a four-game set beginning Thursday night. Jake Arrieta (2-1, 3.78) is slated to take the hill for Norfolk against left-hander Chris Seddon (11-5, 3.44).
