On a bright and sunny day in downtown Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Clippers took the the field against the Norfolk Tides in the opening game of their series. For the eighth time this season, the new Huntington Park was sold out. The Clippers, who were sailing with a three-game winning streak wanted to float gently on the swells. The Tides, who had no streak whatsoever, were looking to sink Columbus and start a modest winning streak.
As only one team could prevail, the Tides made sure to close the deal and took the lead early. Though both the Clippers and Tides scored in the second inning, in the third the Tides quickly put the game in their back pocket. It all started when Melvin Dorta knocked down a grounder and landed up at first. Justin Christian followed it up with a double. Then Jeff Fiorentino stepped up the the plate, hit a high single to center, which sent home Dorta and Christian.
As if the two runs were not bad enough, the Tides continued to put pressure on during the third. With Fiorentino still on first, Jolbert Cabrera hit a double, advancing the runner to third. Justing Turner stepped up and, just like Fiorentino before him, nailed the ball (this time a double) and sent in the two runners. Columbus was able to stop the hemorrhaging after this.
The Tides then continued to put pressure on the Clippers, as they scored three more times in the fourth and once more in the sixth. It was so bad that it seemed as though the ball was allergic to Columbus' bats. It was not until the seventh that Columbus was able to score again, but that was with some help; Norfolk's new pitcher, Fredy Deza, walked the bases loaded and then walked in a run. Columbus, it seemed, could do nothing right.
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