masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDespite holding a record that is 18 games under .500 at 56-74 and currently holding last place in a four-team division, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides remain just two games out of first place with 14 to play. The International League’s South Division is likely going to send an under-.500 team to the playoffs this year. That has not happened in the International League since 1992.
But Charlotte (58-72) holds first place beginning play tonight by a half-game over Gwinnett with Durham one game back…

Despite holding a record that is 18 games under .500 at 56-74 and currently holding last place in a four-team division, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides remain just two games out of first place with 14 to play. The International League’s South Division is likely going to send an under-.500 team to the playoffs this year. That has not happened in the International League since 1992.

But Charlotte (58-72) holds first place beginning play tonight by a half-game over Gwinnett with Durham one game back and Norfolk two out.

Norfolk’s 19-11 record since July 23rd is the third-best mark in the league. The Tides began that date a season-low 26 games under .500 (37-63) and seven games back in the division.

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Tides outfielder Dariel Alvarez posted his third straight multi-hit performance Monday, going 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. He is batting .373/.408/.448 (25-for-67) with eight multi-hit contests over his last 16 games. Alvarez has hit safely in 17 straight games at Harbor Park, the longest home hitting streak in the IL this season. Over that span, he has hit .414 (29-for-70). Batting .294 on the year, Alvarez ranks 10th in the IL in hitting, he is tied for first with 142 hits and second with 36 doubles.

The Tides Christian Walker extended his hitting streak to eight games (.367/.394/.833) going 11-for-30 with three home runs, five doubles and eight RBIs. Walker was named the IL Batter of the Week yesterday and is the second Tide to win the IL’s weekly honor this year, joining pitcher Oliver Drake.

Norfolk’s L.J. Hoes has reached base safely in 10 straight games, over which he’s hit .366 (15-for-41) with one home run, nine RBIs and a .422 on-base percentage. Hoes has hit safely in a season-high eight consecutive games, collecting four multi-hit games over that stretch.

Other minor league notes:

* Double-A Bowie’s Garabez Rosa went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double Monday. He is batting .295/.333/.341 (13-for-44) with two doubles, three runs and four RBIs over his last 12 games.

* Right-hander Parker Bridwell became the fourth 2016 Baysox player to make his MLB debut with the Orioles on Sunday night. In 18 games (seven starts) for the Baysox this season, Bridwell was 1-1 with a 4.53 ERA. Left-handers Ashur Tolliver, Jayson Aquino and Donnie Hart each were promoted directly from Bowie to make their big league debuts with the Orioles earlier this season.

* Single-A Delmarva center fielder Cedric Mullins has now hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games, batting .326/.354/.537 (31-for-95) with 12 doubles, a triple, two home runs, 11 runs and 11 RBIs in that 22-game stretch.

* Short-season Single-A Aberdeen left-hander Alexander Wells tossed his fifth quality start of the season last night, when he allowed one run over six innings with seven strikeouts against Vermont. The strikeout total was a season-high for Wells, who has allowed two runs or fewer in every start of the season. Wells’ ERA of 1.98 ranks fourth-best in the New York-Penn League.

* Aberdeen’s Ryan McKenna extended his hitting streak to six games, batting .391/.462/.435 (9-for-23) with a double, five runs scored and four RBIs.

* Left fielder Richard Barcenas of the Orioles’ Dominican Summer League Team No. 1 has hit safely in eight straight games, batting .361 (13-for-36) with a double, two triples, three runs scored, and five RBIs over that span.