Tillman, Hardy give Birds lift
Starter gives up one run over seven innings, while shortstop hits two-run shot
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Though he was more than worthy of an All-Star selection going into the break, Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman wasn’t selected to participate in last week’s midsummer classic in San Diego.
Tillman took the snub in stride, saying he was more interested in greater rewards, such as getting the Orioles to the postseason and beyond. And in his first second-half start Saturday, he was as steady as he had been throughout the season’s early going.
The Orioles ace won for the 12th time in his past 13 decisions, holding the struggling Tampa Bay Rays to one run over seven innings in a 2-1 win before an announced 18,638 at Tropicana Field.
With the win, the Orioles (53-36) are 17 games above .500, tying their season high.
“Team wins are important,” Tillman said. “All the personal stuff goes by the wayside when it comes to winning ballgames. The more games the team wins, the better off we are at the end of the season. I think that’s our approach, and it’s good to be a part of.”
The Orioles, who have won six of their past seven games and four straight, are 17-3 in games Tillman has started this season. Tillman is 6-0 against American League East opponents, and the Orioles have won all nine of his starts against division rivals.
“It magnifies it when you know everybody knows him,” manager Buck Showalter said. “They know what he’s going to do, and that’s a real tribute to his repertoire.”
Tillman (13-2) had his third straight start of seven innings and one run allowed. He has a 1.29 ERA over his past three starts. He also became the AL’s second 13-game winner; only Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox has more wins (14) among AL pitchers.
The Orioles won a rare low-scoring game and didn’t need much offense against a Tampa Bay club that has lost 24 of its past 27 games. The Orioles have won just 10 of 32 games in which they’ve scored three runs or fewer.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy hit his fourth homer of the season — a two-run blast off starter Matt Moore — in the second inning.
The Rays’ only run off Tillman came in the fourth inning on a single by Steven Souza Jr., who had two of Tampa Bay’s four hits against Tillman.
“It’s the Tillman of a couple years ago,” Hardy said, referring to Tillman’s 16-win season in 2013. “His stuff is really crisp. He’s hitting his spots and he’s throwing four pitches for strikes. He’s keeping hitters off balance. He’s looking really good.”
Brad Brach pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and closer Zach Britton improved to 29-for-29 in save attempts this season with a perfect ninth. Hardy goes deep: Hardy’s homer was his second in four games after hitting that many in his first 41 games, an indication that the veteran shortstop is beginning to find his power stroke for the first time since returning from the disabled list a month ago.
Hardy, who is hitting .372 (13-for-35) over his current nine-game hitting streak, played all last season with a torn labrum in his nonthrowing shoulder, which sapped his power.
“Yeah, I’m not thinking about the shoulder at all,” Hardy said. “I know I was a lot last year. I’m not thinking about it anymore, so I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Hardy took a 93-mph sinker from Moore down the left-field line an estimated 408 feet; the line drive had a 108-mph exit velocity. Hardy’s homer last Sunday went 403 feet and registered a 106-mph exit velocity. Matter of inches: The Rays (34-56) were on the verge of rallying against Tillman in the fourth inning when first baseman Logan Morrison hit a ball to left field that bounced off the top of the left-field fence and initially was ruled a home run.
Showalter challenged the call, which was reversed. Morrison was placed on third and later scored on Souza’s single.
But catcher Matt Wieters quashed the Tampa Bay rally, throwing out Souza attempting to steal second. Wieters has thrown out nine of 29 would-be base stealers this year (31 percent).