Tillman blanks Gwinnett 5-0

Chris Tillman and Kam Mickolio combined on a four-hit shutout, pitching Norfolk to a 5-0 win over Gwinnett in front of 10,025 fans at Harbor Park Friday night.

Tillman (6-5) matched his career-high with 7.2 innings pitched, set previously on August 8, 2007 when he was pitching for Class-A High Desert in the Mariners organization. The 21-year-old allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven as he lowered his ERA to 2.69 for the season.

Tillman threw 67 of his 100 pitches for strikes before surrendering a hit and a walk with two outs in the eighth inning. Mickolio came in and promptly struck out Barbaro Canizares to end the threat, then worked a perfect ninth to help wrap up Norfolk's eighth shutout of the season.

Norfolk gave Tillman all the run support he would need in the first inning, as Jeff Fiorentino doubled home Joey Gathright to give the Tides a 1-0 lead off of Braves starter Tony Armas (1-2). An RBI groundout by Jolbert Cabrera and a sacrifice fly by Michael Aubrey in the first frame helped push Norfolk's advantage to 3-0.

The score stayed 3-0 until the seventh inning, when with two outs and runners on first and second Cabrera lifted a fly ball to center field that Brian Barton lost in the lights. The ball fell behind Barton for a two-run triple, scoring Justin Christian and Fiorentino to increase Norfolk's lead to 5-0.

Gathright, Fiorentino and Brandon Snyder each finished with two hits apiece to help pace Norfolk's 10-hit attack.

The Tides and Braves will continue their five-game home and home series on Saturday, with first pitch from Gwinnett Stadium scheduled for 6:00. Troy Patton (1-2, 5.19) will take the mound for Norfolk against right-hander Bobby Brownlie (0-1, 12.46).