There is a common trend with Norfolk this season and it is this: Their bullpen sucks. This is demonstrated regularly in the games they play, including this one, and it has ripple effects in that when the Orioles need help, there are basically no guys they want to count on.
Take this Friday night game. The Tides took a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning, a lead that they held thanks to Coby Mayo blasting his 15th AAA home run of the season - not bad for a guy who missed a while due to a fractured rib.