NORFOLK, VA. - On a night when the Gwinnett Braves showed some life at the plate, it was the bullpen that struggled as Gwinnett fell to the Norfolk Tides, 4-3 on Saturday at Harbor Park. With the loss, the G-Braves have now lost eight straight games as the 2012 regular season winds down.

The G-Braves took a 3-1 lead with the help of some clutch hitting and poor Norfolk defense. The Tides tied the game in the sixth inning, thanks to a two-run single by Blake Davis off Anthony Varvaro. They would take the lead for good in the eighth inning when L.J. Hoes ripped a double that scored Jai Miller.

Varvaro (L, 3-3) was credited with a blown save after he worked 1 2/3 innings and allowed one runs on two hits, while he yielded three walks. Cory Gearrin (L, 3-3) picked up the loss after he worked one inning and surrendered one run on two hits.

The Tides grabbed the early lead off Gwinnett starter Daniel Rodriguez with the help of the home run. Joe Mahoney lined the first pitch of the second inning over the right field wall for his 10th home run of the year.

Rodriguez, in his first start and second appearance since being signed by the Braves out of the Mexican League, worked three-plus innings, giving up one earned run on five hits.  However, he struggled with his control, walking four batters on the night, as he struck out just one batter.

Gwinnett tied the game in the third inning with the help of Tides' third baseman Bill Hall. With Josh Wilson at third, Rusty Ryal hit a ground ball to Hall, who threw it low to Mahoney at first base. Ryal was safe and Wilson easily scored. The G-Braves took the lead in the 4th inning, when Stefan Gartrell led off the inning with a walk, followed by a Terry Tiffee single. Then with one out, Josh Kroeger lined a double into right-center field, scoring Gartrell. In addition to picking up his 37th RBI of the year, Kroeger was on base three times Saturday, including two walks.

Gwinnett added another tally in the fifth inning to expand their lead, as Durango led off the inning with a single and promptly stole second base. It was Durango's International League-leading 46th swipe of the season, in 61 attempts. Later in the inning, Ernesto Mejia walked and Tiffee drove a 0-2 pitch into left field for a run-scoring single that plated Durango. Tiffee finished a very good night at the plate, going 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Cole McCurry relieved Rodriguez, inheriting a bases loaded, no outs situation, and got out of it without any runners scoring. McCurry finished his outing with 2 1/3 innings of relief without giving up a hit, although he allowed two walks and one earned run. Gwinnett Braves pitchers walked nine batters on the night, but they also induced four double plays.

The Gwinnett Braves (61-81) face the Norfolk Tides (73-69) at 6:15 tonight in the third game of their final four-game series of the regular season. G-Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens (3-6, 5.21) will make the start against Norfolk left-hander Rick Zagone (2-0, 0.00).