Norfolk Tides vs. Durham Bulls, Friday May 29th, Harbor Park, Norfolk, VA

1st inning – The sun was still very much in play for most of Harbor Park. Lights were on at the stadium. Wispy clouds, blue skies, and breeze blowing out to centerfield. Rachel and I had good seats, Section 201 Row P. In my opinion, we had nearly perfect seats to watch a baseball game. After the starting lineups for both teams were announced, I recognized a few familiar names but did not recognize most of the two lineups. Tommy Pham was now going to play RF for the Norfolk Tides. I liked him on the Red Sox, he was a tough character, always put a professional at-bat together with solid defense and good baserunning.

2nd inning – Shadows had nearly reached the middle infielders, a sign the sun was setting behind Harbor Park. Tides had jumped out to a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the 2nd inning. There were planes routing around Harbor Park, one after the other, on their way to nearby ORF-Norfolk International Airport. I’ve been lucky enough to have had a window view of downtown Norfolk from my various plane rides in recent months. It is a pretty awesome view.

3rd inning – Every position player on the field is in the shadows of the evening, except the centerfielder. Tides push another run home to make it 3-0 going into the last half of the 3rd inning. Two local Norfolk friends are sitting behind Rachel and I chatted about football players they know, their grandkids, and life in Norfolk, VA. Rachel and I have finished off a pretzel each and the thirst is significant. I wait until the Tides are done batting before hustling up the cement stairs to the concourse area to grab two much needed waters.

5th inning – The first appearance of the moon and my first attempt to photograph it. Lights in Harbor Park were still not taking much effect as sun had just recently set. Dusk in the ballpark for the most part. A familiar face at the plate for the Durham Bulls. One time Newport Gulls (NECBL) standout Justin-Henry Malloy stepped up to the plate with the Bulls down 4-0 in the top of the 5th. I always love the Newport or Rhode Island connection anywhere I travel to. Malloy has already had a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers. Now a Tampa Bay Ray organizational player, he will look to join the Rays at some point this season.

6th inning – Tides Riley Cooper, newly added to the Tides from the Delmarva Shorebirds, was pitching very well into the 6th. Cooper, a big LHP from LSU, was making pitches and getting outs posting 3 innings of solid strikes and just 2 runs allow. Stadium lights were trying to make an impact and the moon was getting brighter and brighter in the Norfolk evening skyline. The temperature was steady around 70 plus degrees, no humidity, no bugs, really comfortable T-shirt type weather.

7th inning – If you see the term “the wheels fell off” in any baseball reference, it typically means that the pitching failed to get outs and the hitters slugged their way to a crooked number. Such was the case as night really set into Harbor Park in the top of the 7th inning. Batter after batter, error after error, 2 home runs, and 7 runs later, the Durham Bulls had pulled ahead of the Tides, now leading 7-4. It happened to 3 pitchers for the Tides in the inning and when the 3rd out was recorded, the Tides were looking up at the Bulls on the scoreboard.

9th inning – I realized something – The moon is tough to photograph with a smartphone. But the stadium lights were giving me a wonderful opportunity to photograph the players on the field at Harbor Park. Tides were down to their last at-bats, trailing the Bulls by a score of 7-4. And that is how it ended. A monster 7 run inning was the difference in the game. On Virginia Beach Night at Harbor Park, in front of nearly 6800 fans, the Tides just couldn’t recover after being up 4-0 and seemingly cruising to a quality Friday night win.

Rachel and I made our way out of Harbor Park, over to “The Tide” rail station, bumped along with other fans out to Military Station inside the crowded rail car, and hopped in our car for home feeling very satisfied with our Norfolk Tides adventure. I loved our seats, I loved the weather, the game was entertaining, the pretzels were awesome, and it was another amazing Norfolk baseball experience at Harbor Park watching the Tides face the Durham Bulls.