By Josh Cook
Philippe Valiquette's wild pitch - on an attempted intentional walk - in the bottom of the 13th inning gave Norfolk a 4-3 win over visiting Louisville on Saturday night at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Va.
With the score tied at 3-all and Adam Donachie on third base Valiquette was set to issue an intentional walk to Robert Andino. However, Valiquette's first offering sailed over the head of Bats catcher Chris Denove and allowed Donachie to score the game-winning run.
The victory helped the Tides (35-42) move out of the basement of the International League South Division and into third-place 11 games behind Durham. Meanwhile Louisville (35-41) remains in last place in the IL West 11 games behind Columbus.
It looked good for Norfolk early as it built a 3-0 lead.
The Tides scored two in the third and another in the fifth when Michael Aubrey hit his fifth home run of the season off Louisville starter Matt Maloney.
Maloney gave up four hits and three earned runs while striking out six in six innings, but got the no decision.
Daniel Dorn made it 3-1 in the sixth when he led off with his fifth homer of the season off Norfolk starter Zach Clark. It was the only run Clark allowed, while striking out seven and giving up four hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The Bats scored two more runs in the seventh off Tides reliever Jim Miller to tie the game. Ryan Hanigan singled with one out before Todd Frazier hit his 10th home run of the season to tie the game.
Highly-touted left-handed prospect Aroldis Chapman pitched one inning of relief, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh inning.
The two teams stayed locked at 3 until the 13th. That's when Donachie led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, then took third on a ground out. That set the stage for Valiquette's errant throw to Andino, whom he was trying to intentionally walk.
Alberto Castillo (1-0) picked up the win for the Tides giving up five hits over three innings.
Valiquette (0-1) gave up one hit and the aforementioned run in 1 1/3 innings.
Zack Cozart and Wladimir Balentien led Louisville's 11-hit attack with two apiece.
The two teams meet for Game 3 of their four-game series at 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
