Triple-A Tides look to avoid 0-5 start tonight

Like their parent club, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides have not gotten their offense going much this year. But unlike the Orioles, Norfolk is winless and is last in the league in batting. The Tides scored just five runs in going 0-4 in their season-opening series at Charlotte. The Tides' team batting mark of .165 is last in the International League. Norfolk plays at Gwinnett tonight looking to avoid its first 0-5 start since 1993. Ryan Adams has begun the season at 1-for-12 while Brandon Snyder is 1-for-9, Matt Angle is 1-for-14 and Brendan Harris is 2-for-14. Triple-A rookie Tyler Henson went 3-for-9 with two doubles in the series against Charlotte. Lefty Troy Patton pitches for Norfolk this evening versus the Braves' Jair Jurrjens at 7:05 p.m. Patton went 8-11 with an ERA of 4.43 at Triple-A in 2010. Tonight he will make his 43rd career Triple-A start. Left-handed bullpen specialist Clay Rapada retired all three lefty hitters he faced in Friday's game. Last year, he retired 18 of 19 lefty batters for the Texas Rangers and 83 of 92 at Triple-A. Tim Bascom makes his season debut on the mound tonight when Double-A Bowie plays at Richmond. The Baysox are 1-2. Single-A Frederick is off after splitting a doubleheader Sunday. The Keys host Myrtle Beach tomorrow night in their home opener at Harry Grove Stadium. Single-A Delmarva, now 3-1, hosts Kannapolis this evening. Outfielder Kipp Schutz had four hits and a career-high six RBIs in the Shorebirds' win Sunday. His previous best was a five-RBI game last July for Short-Season Single-A Aberdeen.