BALTIMORE, Maryland May 17, 2014 - This is the game the Orioles have been waiting for, the game when their best pitcher puts it all together. Chris Tillman returned to last year at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City last night, firing a complete game five hit shut out in the Orioles 4-0 win. Making it even better: Chris Davis hit a titantic home run to seal the deal. And: Nelson Cruz kept up his productive hitting, knocking in two more runs. The fourth run came in typical Oriole style. With runners at the corners and one out, Steve Clevenger hit a ground ball to second base that looked for all the world like a double play that would prevent the runner on third from scoring. Except that Clevenger, the backup catcher forced into first line duty by Matt Wieters' injury, put his nose down and raced to first, beating the relay from second by an eyelash, and allowing the run to count on his RBI.
The victory allowed the Orioles to extend their American League Eastern Division lead to a full game over the Yankees, whose game at Yankee Stadium against the Pirates was postponed by the drenching rain storm over the Bronx. The game will be made up on Sunday as part of a single admission twin bill at Yankee Stadium. The two teams play a single game today at 4:05 pm.
With the win, Tillman improved his record to 4-2. As hard to believe as it is, this was Tillman's first ever complete game shut out. He gave up only five hits over the nine innings, while walking only one Royal and striking out just three. With the defense Baltimore displays behind him, Oriole pitchers almost naturally pitch to the strike zone and take their chances - very good chances, as it stands - from there. The win was the Orioles' second straight after breaking a four-game losing streak last night. Their road record is now 13-8, although they have a losing record at home.
The Orioles offense was spread out over three different at bats. They struck for two runs to take the lead in the fourth inning. Manny Machado led off the fourth with a bunt single, and Machado raced to second when Jeremy Guthrie's throw after fielding the bunt, bounced past Royal first baseman Eric Hosmer. Then, with the next hitter Adam Jones, at bat, Guthrie uncorked a wild pitch allowing Machado to advance to third. Jones, however, grounded out to shortstop, and Machado held third. Then Chris Davis walked. Nelson Cruz then plated the first run of the game with a ground single that bounced over Hosmer's head into right field. Davis raced to third on the play. Steve Clevenger followed with a ground ball that second baseman Johnny Giavotella fielded and threw to the bag to force Cruz, but shortstop Alcides Escobar's throw to first was a tad late allowing Clevenger to reach and, more importantly, allowing Davis to score the second run. The Birds added a third run in the sixth inning. With one out, Jones sent a ground ball to the left side of the infield. Escobar made a play on the ball, but only could deflect it. Third baseman Mike Moustakas did field the ball but was unable to make a play on Jones. Davis followed with a single through a Royal shift and into right field; Jones raced to third on the play. From there he scored on a sacrifice fly by Cruz. The final run of the night was worth waiting for. Chris Davis, who led the majors in home runs last season, but through an injury-plagued first six weeks of this season has hit only two, launched a long home run to right field with two outs in the Oriole eighth inning. It put Baltimore ahead, 4-0. The big question after that was whether Tillman could complete the shut out, something he had never done. Hosmer led off the Royal ninth with a ground ball up the middle. Ryan Flaherty, the Oriole second sacker, made an all-out effort to get to the ball, but only deflected it into the outfield. Tillman was not affected. Salvatore Perez followed with a ground ball to shortstop, and the Orioles forced Hosmer at second for the first out. Alex Gordon was next and he, too, hit a ground ball, this one to Davis at first. Davis threw to Hardy at second base to force Perez for the second out. The game then ended on the third ground ball out of the inning: this one was to Hardy, who threw to Flaherty to end the game.
The almost daily roster shuffle the Orioles engage in under General Manager Dan Duquette continued yesterday, as he and manager Buck Showalter, along with the staff at Norfolk of the International League, try to keep fresh arms available in the bullpen. In Friday's move, Brad Brach returned to Baltimore and the Orioles announced that they had signed veteran Heath Bell to a minor league deal. To make room for Brach, Evan Meek was designated for assignment, but don't expect Meek to end up anywhere but back in Baltimore in a few week's time. If, as expected, Meek clears waivers, he will be resigned by the Orioles and placed at Norfolk until he is needed again in Baltimore. Bell is now 36 and was released by Tampa Bay two weeks ago when his ERA ballooned to over seven runs per game. If he passes a physical he will pitch at Norfolk until ready to return to the big leagues. Brach has been impressive at Norfolk, striking out 38 hitters in 19 and one-third innings. For the Orioles he has pitched one and two-thirds innings over two games, allowing three earned runs.
Here are the American League Eastern Division Standings up-to-the-minute:
American League Eastern Division Standings Up-to-the-Minute (10:49 am, May 17
1. Baltimore Orioles: 22 wins, 18 losses, .550 pct
2. New York Yankees: 21 wins, 19 losses, .525 pct, 1 game behind
3. Toronto Blue Jays: 22 wins, 21 losses, .512 pct, 1.5 games behind
4. Boston Red Sox: 20 wins, 21 losses, .488 pct, 2.5 games behind
5. Tampa Bay Rays: 19 wins, 24 losses, .442 pct, 4.5 games behind
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