The Norfolk Tides’ early-season magic continued Sunday afternoon as they rallied from three runs behind for a 5-4, 10-inning victory over Durham, winning on Terrin Vavra’s RBI single.
The International League-leading Tides (24-8) went 5-1 in the six-game series against the defending champion Bulls (17-15), concluding a homestand with one of their most dramatic victories in recent memory.
With Norfolk down 4-1 in the seventh inning, Ryan O’Hearn lined a double to left-center field to score Colton Cowser.
The Bulls retained a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, but the Tides then gave a thrill to the crowd of 6,165. Vavra doubled to center to start the inning, and Connor Norby followed by blasting a tying two-run homer to left field, forcing an extra inning.
Reliever Reed Garrett (2-0) took over in the top of the 10th. Durham’s Ruben Cardenas began the inning at second base, but he never moved as Garrett got three outs despite a walk. One of those outs was a diving catch in left field by Norby, an East Carolina product.
In the bottom of the 10th, with the Tides’ Joey Ortiz as the automatic runner at second, Durham reliever Trevor Brigden (1-3) intentionally walked Josh Lester and got the next two men out on fly balls to the outfield. But Vavra belted a 1-0 pitch to center field, bringing home Ortiz with the decisive run.
The Tides will carry momentum to Florida when they face the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Miami Marlins’ top affiliate, in a six-game series starting Tuesday night.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
East Division
Team, W-L, Pct., GB
Norfolk (Orioles), 24-8, .750, -
Jacksonville (Marlins), 17-14, .548, 6.5
Durham (Rays), 17-15, .531, 7.0
Lehigh Valley (Phillies), 17-15, .531, 7.0
Worcester (Red Sox), 17-16, .515, 7.5
Charlotte (White Sox), 16-17, .485, 8.5
Syracuse (Mets), 15-18, .455, 9.5
Scranton/W-B (Yankees), 14-19, .424, 10.5
Buffalo (Blue Jays), 13-20, .394, 11.5
Rochester (Nationals), 11-20, .355, 12.5
West Division
Memphis (Cardinals), 20-13, .606, -
Iowa (Cubs), 18-12, .600, 0.5
St. Paul (Twins), 18-13, .581, 1.0
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Toledo (Tigers), 18-14, .563, 1.5
Nashville (Brewers), 17-15, .531, 2.5
Columbus (Guardians), 16-16, .500, 3.5
Indianapolis (Pirates), 15-17, .469, 4.5
Louisville (Reds), 13-19, .406, 6.5
Omaha (Royals), 12-19, .387, 7.0
Gwinnett (Braves), 12-20, .375, 7.5