The Orioles scored seven runs in the first two innings, and got a terrific start from Chris Tillman in beating Seattle 10-4 Monday night.
Nate McLouth’s leadoff home run in the first started the offensive barrage. Mariners’ starter Hector Neosi (L, 2-12) then retired JJ Hardy and Chris Davis, but Adam Jones walked. Matt Wieters singles Jones to third, and Mark Reynolds singled him home. A Manny Machado single made it 3-0 after one.
A walk, two singles, two doubles, and a Mariners error led to a four-run second for the birds, and a 7-0 lead.
Chris Tillman, starting for the first time since leaving the game September 2nd with elbow stiffness, made the early lead stand up. Tillman (W, 8-2) threw 58 of his 91 pitches for strikes. He gave up just one run on three hits and a walk. Tillman struck out four, and was helped by terrific defense. In the third, Machado ranged far to his left to snare a chopper from Dustin Ackley. He spun and fired across the diamond. Reynolds made his now famous flop-catch, stretching out onto the ground, holding onto the bag, for the out.
Wei-Yin Chen (12-9, 4.00) pitches Tuesday night for the Orioles against Seattle’s Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 3.49). First pitch is slated for 10:10.
The GOOD:
- Tillman: 4-0, 0.98 ERA career vs. his former team.
- Jones: 3/4, 1BB, 4R, 1RBI against his former team Monday. What we REALLY loved, though, was how Jones hustled all the way down the line on a ground ball to short in the eighth. The score at that time was 10-1.
- Matt Wieters stays hot: 3/5, 1HR (22), 3RBI, 2R.
- McLouth: 3/5, 1BB, 1HR (4), 2R, 1RBI.
- O’s: 8/15 RISP.
- The Yankees were off Monday. The Rays lost. The Orioles train the Yankees by half a game. Tampa Bay is in third, 5.5 out. In the Wild Card, the A’s own the top spot, the Orioles own the number 2 spot, 1.5 GB oakland. Outside looking in are the Angels (3GB), Tampa (5), and Detroit (5.5).
The BAD:
- The bullpen combo of Zach Phillips and Luis Ayala: 2.2IP, 5H, 3R, 2BB, 2K, 2HR.
- Davis: 0/5, 3K, 4LOB.
