O's manager Buck Showalter takes note as Norfolk and Bowie close in on division titles

As the Orioles top two minor league affiliates, Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie, close in on division championships, their accomplishments are being noted in the dugout in Baltimore.

That should come as no surprise. Orioles manager Buck Showalter often takes time during his afternoon press conferences to throw props and praise to players and coaches from the minors. He did again today.

Norfolk is 72-51 and leading its division by 6 1/2 games over Gwinnett with 21 games to play. The Tides magic number to clinch the division is 15. With a win tonight, the Tides would be 22 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2001 season with an 85-57 record. Bowie is 70-51 with a 4 1/2 game lead over Akron and also has a magic number of 15 to clinch with 21 games remaining.

Showalter today said he is paying not only close attention to those teams, but others on the farm as well.

"Oh yeah. I don't want to jinx them," he said of the Tides and Baysox. "I look at it almost every night, how many games they have left. It's all relative. I remember being in Albany and Ft. Lauderdale and Oneonta. I know how big that is.

"You spend that much time - you end up playing 144 games. It's a big deal. I don't take it lightly. I don't want to crush Norfolk here on September first (with call-ups). They pushed the end of the season back further. They could actually be playing down there through like the 15th, potentially. I hope so.

"We have other clubs that have a shot. The job being done in Delmarva by (manager) Ryan Minor is impressive, too. I was reading the narrative from (manager) Matt Merullo today from the Gulf Coast League game. So attentive to detail, everything little thing that happened in the game. Brian Graham (director of player development) and our minor league staff, they don't miss much."

Norfolk outfielder Dariel Alvarez extended his hitting streak to six games (.391/.440/.565) last night. Center fielder Julio Borbon has now hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games (.373/.367/.407). Tides closer Oliver Drake earned his 22nd save of the season Tuesday, tossing a scoreless ninth inning. He ranks second in the International League in saves with an 0.68 ERA.

At Bowie last night, the Baysox scored twice in the last of the ninth to beat Trenton 4-3. David Freitas homered to tie and Corban Joseph's RBI single won it, providing Bowie yet another walk-off victory.

Freitas went 2-for-4 and has hit safely in five straight games, batting .588/.632/1.176 (10-for-17) with three home runs and five RBIs. Right-hander Joe Gunkel posted his fifth quality start over his last six outings, going 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA. Third baseman Drew Dosch went 1-for-3 with a walk, triple, and two RBIs, and has recorded at least one RBI in three consecutive games.

Single-A Delmarva is 59-60 and can still finish over .500 with a team that has been hit hard by injuries and one that some scouts feel is short on prospects outside of Jomar Reyes. Short season Single-A Aberdeen is just 1 1/2 games out of first place and Single-A Frederick is three games out in the second-half Carolina League race.