Chris Davis on the O's overcoming injuries and the mood in a winning clubhouse (Stewart note)

Chris Davis was asked before Friday's game against Cleveland if he is starting to see similarities between the 2014 and 2015 Orioles?

"I'm sure there are things you compare to last year, but it's a different club and a different group of guys. We're starting to finally play our brand of baseball, and it's fun to enjoy the winning.

"It would have been easy to get down on ourselves early. Just been really proud of the way these guys have battled. That was a big road trip for us. We did a great job of staying in the hunt and giving ourselves a chance," he said.

For the second year in a row the Orioles are doing a solid job of overcoming injuries and adversity. Davis said that solid organizational depth is one reason they've been able to do it.

"It's kind of crazy what these guys are able to do," Davis said. "I think it speaks a lot about our minor league system. It speaks a lot about our minor league coaches. We talk every spring that it is not going to be just the 25 guys in the clubhouse, but guys from (Triple-A) Norfolk and even (Double-A) Bowie coming up. The coaches get those guys ready to come up here and contribute. But not just come up here, but be ready to go back down and continue to work and stay ready. That is something we take a lot of pride in."

The 2014 Orioles were 30-29 on June 6 and 6 ½ games out of first-place. By June 26 they moved to within 1 ½ games of first. This year the Orioles were 25-30 on June 6 and 5 ½ games out. Last night they moved to within one game of first place.

The 2014 Orioles team that won 96 games was 38-35 after 73 games and this club is 39-34.

With Friday's 4-3 win over Cleveland, the Orioles have won five of six games, eight of 11, 14 of 18 and 16 of their last 21. They've gotten hot and moved to within a game of the top spot in an AL East right now where four teams are separated by a single game in the standings.

The Orioles clubhouse always seems like a pretty relaxed place, but Davis was asked how it is when the team is winning so much?

"Things are a little bit lighter when you are winning. Everyone is happier and it makes things easier, but you still have to focus on your goal every day and not take anything for granted," he said.

Minors matter: Triple-A Norfolk scored twice in the last of the 10th last night to beat Toledo 5-4 at Harbor Park. The win was Norfolk's fifth straight and improved the Tides (42-32) to a season-high 10 games over the .500 mark.

Steve Clevenger paced Norfolk's offense with three hits and an intentional walk in five plate appearances, including a game-tying RBI single with two outs in the eighth inning. Clevenger, who has now hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, has hit .343 in 42 games with the Tides this season.

Right-hander Michael Bowden pitched into the sixth inning, but did not factor in the decision. Bowden allowed three runs on six hits. He's now qualified among the International League leaders, where his 2.43 ERA ranks fourth in the league. Bowden is one of four Tides players - along with Chris Jones, Tyler Wilson and Zach Davies - ranked in the top 11 in the league in ERA.

Double-A Bowie wrapped up its longest homestand of the season with a 4-1 win against New Britain. The win moves the Baysox a season-high 11 games over .500 (42-31) as they went 7-1 during the homestand against the top two teams in the Eastern League's Eastern Division.

Right-hander Mychal Givens made his first appearance back with the Baysox since making his major league debut with the Orioles against the Red Sox on Wednesday. Givens threw two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit to pick up his 13th save.

Single-A Frederick lost 11-1 at Salem as Keys pitchers walked 10. Frederick is 0-2 in the second half and has lost four straight and eight of its last nine games.

Single-A Delmarva scored all its runs in the first inning Friday night in a 5-2 victory over the Hagerstown Suns. Delmarva is 2-0 in the second half and 35-35 for the season.

In that big first inning, Delmarva's Derek Peterson singled to score two runs, extending his hitting streak to a season-high ten games. Elier Leyva added a two-run single and Yermin Mercedes delivered an RBI double for a 5-0 lead.

Stewart signs: O's first-round draft pick DJ Stewart posted on his Twitter account today that he has signed with the Orioles. MASNsports.com was first to report yesterday that the Orioles had reached an agreement with Stewart.

Today I signed my first professional contract to begin my career as a professional baseball player in... https://t.co/OLKaY4baYl

-- Demetrius Stewart (@GOOODJ8) June 27, 2015