Orioles minors 6/30: Norfolk wins, but that's about it

Norfolk Tides 5, Durham Bulls 4

Continuing to impress this season, Joe Gunkel had quite the productive outing. He allowed eight hits over 6.1 innings, but didn't walk a single Bull and kept the run total to just two. Not bad for a guy fighting for a potential late-season spot with the Birds.

It wasn't as good of a night for lefty Zach Phillips - he faced three hitters: two walks, one hit and two runners scored.

Much of the offense down on the farm Thursday night was ugly, but Norfolk came through with some clutch hitting. Paul Janish put together a 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI, while Audy Perez continues to dominate behind the dish and at it. He notched a pair of singles with an RBI, also scoring a run. Perez is hitting .305 on the season through 55 games with the Tides.

Altoona Curve 6, Bowie Baysox 2

It was a rough night for Jason Garcia, who hurled five less-than-productive innings. He allowed nine hits and six runs (all earned), walking four and striking out just a pair. The Curve teed off in the early innings, forcing an unfortunate deficit that couldn't be overcome.

Garabez Rosa picked up a triple, setting his average at .355; Chance Sisco also collected a single - he's hitting .309 on the season with the Baysox. Shortstop Adrian Marin was the only member of the lineup with a multi-hit night, going 2-4 with a pair of singles and a run scored.

Salem Red Sox 5, Frederick Keys 1

The Keys got seven hits on the night, including a home run from third baseman Jomar Reyes, but they couldn't muster anything with runners in scoring position. Five of their seven hits were singles, but that wasn't the dominating storyline of the night.

Frederick tallied three errors on the night, leading to the surrendering of three earned runs in the eighth inning.

On the mound, starter Mitch Horacek didn't have a terrible night - in fact, he allowed just two runs over five innings and struck out three. However, the lefty from Colorado is now 3-9 on the season with a 4.97 ERA ... not exactly on the fast track toward a rise up the organization.

Hagerstown Suns 3, Delmarva Shorebirds 2

The Suns managed to plate a 10th inning run off of Christian Turnipseed (still the best name in the organization), but it was a brilliant game from the Delmarva arms. Starter Brian Gonzalez threw six frames of one-run ball, while Jesus Liranzo - a 21-year-old from the Dominican - tossed three innings of one-hit baseball, striking out four.

Yermin Mercedes (.344 average) continues his hot season with two walks and a single; Cedric Mullins went yard for the only round-tripper of the night; former Calvert Hall catcher Alex Murphy tallied two hits, including a double, and an RBI.

Delmarva is now 45-32 on the year, very much in the running to snatch some hardware at the end of the season.

Vermont Lake Monsters 7, Aberdeen Ironbirds 2

Another game, another loss. This recap isn't a very fun one, is it?

Ironbirds pitching, over just eight innings, allowed 15 hits and seven runs in an ugly road affair. 22-year-old Steven Kilmek, a right-hander from St. Bonaventure, tossed three brutal innings of getting completely beat up. He was knocked around for nine hits, six earned runs and a walk, failing to notch a strikeout. On the bright side, UNC-Wilmington alum Will Shepley did strike out the side in the ninth.

Aberdeen's lineup mustered just six hits - Cole Billingsley, the former South Alabama standout, had the only multi-hit performance ... Daniel Fajardo, in his fifth year in the organization, knocked his first home run out of the park in the fifth inning.

Today's starters

Norfolk vs. Durham, 7:05. Starter: Andy Oliver

Bowie at Altoona, 7:00. Starter: John Means

Frederick vs. Salem, 7:00. Starter: Franderlin Romero

Delmarva at Hagerstown, 7:05. Starter: Michael Costello

Aberdeen at Lowell, 7:05. Starter: TBD