From Bowie to Norfolk to Baltimore, O's feature three first-place teams

Not only do the Orioles have the best winning percentage in their division today, but so do their top two farm team, as well.

The Orioles are playing .547 (41-34) ball, tops in the American League East by percentage point over Tampa Bay. Triple-A Norfolk, at .573 (43-32), leads its division in the International League, as does Double-A Bowie, at .575 (42-31) in the Eastern League.

The Orioles used pitching (two shutouts) and power (five homers) to sweep Cleveland 4-0 and 8-0 on Sunday, posting two shutouts in a doubleheader for the first time since Sept. 6, 1974 at Cleveland.

"It was a great day," first baseman/outfielder Chris Parmelee said. "Anytime you can pick up two wins in a doubleheader, it's a good day."

Holding first place right now might present some bragging rights for fans, but O's players are not beating their chests over it.

"We're focusing day-by-day. If we win, it will be there at the end of the year," Parmelee said.

Chris Tillman was a pitcher in need of a good outing when he took the mound last night with an ERA of 6.22. Seven scoreless innings later, he had one.

"He was real confident today," Parmelee said. "He went out and attacked the zone. Throwing some off-speed pitches for the first pitch and kept them off the fastball early, and he really commanded the zone and attacked."

It sure was a feel-good Sunday for the Orioles, and Parmelee passed on some credit to the fans, as 85,681 showed up for two games at the Yard.

"It's fun. The fans definitely helped us out today and we're doing it for the city of Baltimore," he said.

O's starters pitched 15 innings Sunday without allowing a walk or a run. The two shutouts lowered the team ERA from 3.78 to 3.67. In the three-game series, Cleveland scored just three runs and O's starters gave up only two runs over 21 innings.

The Orioles host Texas tonight to start a four-game series. The Orioles are 10-1 in their last 11 home games. Overall, they have won four in a row, 10 of 13 and 18 of the last 23 games.

Rajsich on Stewart: Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich talked with reporters Sunday about the club's top draft pick, Florida State outfielder DJ Stewart. He was officially signed by the Orioles over the weekend and is reporting to short-season Single-A Aberdeen.

"A few years ago, our executive vice president of baseball operations, Dan Duquette, described the Orioles as a hard-working, lunchpail-carrying club to fit the identity of the city," Rajsich said. "That is DJ Stewart. He is a lunchpail-carrying, blue-collar type of ballplayer. You are going to get everything he's got every day."

Asked if there was a player that Stewart reminded him of, Rajsich said: "With that crouch, I'd say he's Kevin Youkilis from the left side."