NORFOLK, Va. – Bubba Bell lined a Jim Miller pitch over the right-field fence in the top of the 10th inning Tuesday night to give the PawSox a 6-5 win in a game – scoring notwithstanding – highlighted by defense.

It was Bell's first Triple-A homer. He came up recently from Double-A Bristol.

"We'll take it," said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. "Our bullpen has been pitching so well lately, but we had some problems tonight."

PawSox relievers blew leads of 4-3 and 5-4 before Fernando Cabrera earned his 15th save, giving Hunter Jones (1-2) a victory.

TRIPLE YOUR PLEASURE: Norfolk was up 3-2 in the fifth inning when Jolbert Cabrera lined out to PawSox second baseman Travis Denker with runners moving from first and second bases.

Denker caught the ball near second base, touched it to double off Joey Gathright and – rather than just reach out to tag Justin Christian – tossed to Aaron Bates at first to complete the triple play.

"Everybody was yelling at me ‘tag him, tag him,'" said Denker, who added he could remember being in at least two other triple plays as a professional. "I wish I had tagged him. Then I wouldn't have to take so much (stuff) about it."

It was the first PawSox triple play since Aug. 13, 2004, when they turned one against Syracuse. It was the first triple play in Harbor Park since June 5, 1997.

DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: The PawSox also turned in three double plays, including one that ended with Norfolk’s Melvin Dorta being thrown out at the plate in the eighth inning.

Norfolk had two double plays, diving catches by left fielder Christian and right fielder Jeff Fiorentino and a play in which center fielder Gathright caught Bates’ fly, then crashed into the fence to end the PawSox’ ninth inning and strand Chris Carter.

YOU DON’T SEE IT EVERY DAY: Norfolk broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning on Fiorentino’s sacrifice FOUL fly to an infielder. PawSox first baseman Bates caught the ball going away from the plate, and Christian tagged up and scored easily.

And in the bottom of 10th inning, Brandon Pinckney fanned with two out and Melvin Dorta moving from first. The ball eluded PawSox catcher John Otness and Dorta reached third, where he was stranded when Steve Torrealba struck out to end the game.

LOWRIE REPORT: Pawsox shortstop Jed Lowrie, on a rehabilitation assignment from Boston after surgery for a broken wrist on April 21, was hit in the knee by a Chris Tillman pitch in the first inning. In the third inning, Lowrie singled to right field and later scored. Expected to get 3-4 at-bats, he instead left the game after two, turning the position over to Gil Velazquez in the bottom of the third inning.

"After he was hit, he had a welt on his knee," Johnson said. "We iced it and took him out."

Lowrie is scheduled to take Wednesday night's game off, and Johnson said he anticipated staying with that schedule.

NOT THAT FAR BACK: Norfolk held turn-back-the-clock night Tuesday and drew a standing-room-only crowd of 12,077 (10 over capacity), which meant they paid $11 for a ticket, $5 to park and 25 cents each for hot dogs (sold 22,000), popcorn (6,000) and soda (13,000). Many of those on hand were doubtless confused by the Mets patch worn on the Tides uniforms. Norfolk was a New York affiliate for 38 years before ending the working agreement in a fit of pique two years ago to hook up with the Baltimore Orioles.