NORFOLK Three Norfolk Tides players quietly prepared for the next phase of their careers Tuesday night. Together, they represented the first wave of reinforcements destined for Baltimore when major league rosters expanded the next day. Individually, their backgrounds reveal a trio of players traversing the winding road of pro baseball, all at different points along the way.

By Jim Hodges NORFOLK The Tides made Erik Cordier's Triple-A debut a night to forget, touching him for five first-inning runs before he was dismissed with only two outs. Cordier was his own worst enemy, walking four Tides, three of whom scored. All of the runs came with two outs, with Rhyne Hughes' single the key blow.

In the world of minor league baseball, Sept. 1 marks perhaps the most important day on the calendar. Today, big league clubs can expand their rosters to 40 men, providing a group of farmhands the opportunity to prove themselves for an entire month on the sport's grandest stage.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. Gwinnett left-hander Scott Diamond took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before settling for a two-hit shutout Monday night as the Braves beat the Norfolk Tides 4-0 at Coolray Field. Diamond (4-0), who remained unbeaten in eight starts since being recalled from Double-A Mississippi, allowed just four baserunners and at one time, retired 20 Tides in a row.

Staff report LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. The Gwinnett Braves scored six runs in the seventh inning to overcome a 4-2 deficit Sunday at Coolray Field and beat the Norfolk Tides 8-4, snapping the Tides' four-game winning streak. Nolan Reimold (2 for 4, one RBI) was the only Tide with more than one hit. Norfolk's six hits were singles.

Staff report Lawrenceville, Ga. Rhyne Hughes hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to help the Norfolk Tides rally to a 5-4 win over the Gwinnett Braves on Saturday night at Coolray Field.

FORT MILL, S.C. Tim Bascom hurled seven stellar innings Friday night, leading the Tides to a 5-1 victory over Charlotte. The right-hander allowed one run on five hits in Norfolk's third consecutive win. Bascom won for the first time since June 27, having compiled an 0-5 record during that span. His seven innings marked his longest outing since his first Triple-A start on June 10.

FORT MILL, S.C. Adam Donachie smacked a two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning to send the Norfolk Tides to a 7-6 win over Charlotte on Thursday night. Norfolk overcame a six-run deficit to earn its second consecutive victory. The blast came off reliever Greg Aquino and followed a single by Blake Davis, who went 3 for 4 after hitting a grand slam in Wednesday's contest.

Staff report DURHAM, N.C. Blake Davis' grand slam in the second inning wiped out a 2-0 Durham lead and propelled the Norfolk Tides to a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night, halting their six-game losing streak. Davis' shot to right field followed three straight singles off the bats of Nolan Reimold, Lou Montanez and Brandon Snyder.

DURHAM, N.C. Norfolk starting pitcher Troy Patton allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday night but it was enough to send the Tides to their sixth straight defeat, 1-0 to the Durham Bulls. All six losses have been to Durham, the first five coming at Harbor Park in Norfolk.