The last time Triple-A Norfolk turned a triple play, Christian Walker would have been in his first season of tee ball.

The Orioles' No. 5 prospect combined with third baseman Michael Almanzar and second baseman Rey Navarro on an around-the-horn triple play in the eighth inning of the Tides' 3-1 win over Durham on Tuesday night at Harbor Park.

It was the third triple play in the International League this season and Norfolk's first since June 15, 1997.

Bulls catcher Luke Maile got the ball rolling with a sharp grounder down the third base line. Almanzar, standing a few steps off the base, lunged to his right and snared the hot shot. Over at first, Walker slid his foot onto the bag, wanting to be ready in case his teammate went for the play at first.

"Honestly, it happened so quick," Walker said. "He hit it and it was into the glove within a millisecond. I really didn't have time to process what was going on. I just wanted to make sure I was on first to be there for the play.

"With Mikey at third, he's got that long body and those long arms and he's good at guarding that line. I think it was kind of the right place at the right time."

As the 24-year-old looked on from across the diamond, Almanzar stepped on third before twisting in one motion and delivered a perfect throw to Navarro at second.

"He made a really nice play throwing across his body over to second base," Walker said. "Luckily, the ball was hit hard enough to where there was plenty of time to turn the triple play."

Navarro didn't hesitate in firing to first.

"Honestly, I was so worried about just catching the ball," Walker said. "I didn't want to be the guy who messes up the back end of a triple play. It was a really good throw by Rey."

The Pennsylvania native didn't drop it, and when the ball was secure in his glove, he sought out his third baseman for a high-five. Amid the celebration, he lost track of the milestone ball but was too excited to care.

"It was exciting," Walker said. "Everybody was kind of running around in circles and screaming and jumping. You know, this thing doesn't happen too often and for it to happen like that, and to go from first and second with no outs to being out of the inning and back in to hit again, that's just pretty exciting."

The 2012 fourth-round pick is no stranger to the triple play. He was part of one in high school, although it wasn't quite as satisfying as Tuesday's.

"It was definitely an unorthodox triple play," Walker recalled with a laugh. "It was a fly ball or a line drive; we turned two and then somebody gets caught in a rundown for the third out.

"This one was much better. That was definitely one of the smoothest triple plays that I've ever seen."

Walker and his fellow infielders helped escape the eighth-inning jam and preserve the lead for Norfolk starter Elih Villanueva (3-1), who gave up three hits and a walk while striking out four over seven scoreless innings. Pedro Beato allowed a run on two hits in the ninth before recording his 12th save.