Final
Mariners-Orioles Preview
May 18, 2016 - 3:32 AM The Baltimore Orioles have experienced one three-game losing streak this season, and that came nearly three weeks ago.Another one seems unlikely given the way Chris Tillman has pitched lately.
Tillman seeks a fifth consecutive winning start when the Orioles and Mariners continue their three-game series at Camden Yards on Wednesday night.
With the Orioles seemingly forever in search of an ace, Tillman (5-1, 2.58 ERA) appears capable of filling that role this season. Since losing at Texas on April 14, the right-hander has gone 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts while striking out 36 over 33 innings.
He's allowed one home run this year and none in his last six starts.
Tillman's latest performance was his best of the year. He outdueled Detroit's Justin Verlander in a 1-0 victory Friday, yielding five hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.
"I feel good right now," Tillman told the team's official website. "I think mechanically I'm in a good place and I'm able to execute all my pitches when I need to, not necessarily throwing fastballs in a fastball count, but I'm able to throw some other things that I'm not used to doing. It's fun right now, and I'll try to keep it going."
Tillman, drafted by Seattle in 2006, is 6-0 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts against his former organization. He was, however, tagged for five runs and eight hits over 2 1/3 innings of a 6-5, 10-inning loss at Safeco Field on Aug. 11.
Robinson Cano went 2 for 2 against Tillman in that game and is 14 for 31 with two homers in their matchups.
Cano and Nelson Cruz have always hit the Orioles well and that continued in Tuesday's series-opening 10-0 rout. Cano had three hits and Cruz went 3 for 3 with a homer and five RBIs against his former team as Seattle (22-16) snapped a three-game skid and improved the AL's best road record to 14-6.
''It was good to get the road trip off to a great start,'' said third baseman Kyle Seager, whose three-run homer made it 7-0 in the fifth inning.
Cano has a 10-game hitting streak at Baltimore and is a lifetime .367 hitter there.
''Robbie was locked in,'' Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Seager had the big home run as well. It was a well-played game by us.''
Cruz has reached base in 43 of 46 career games against the Orioles, including 41 with at least one hit. He's 10 for 20 with three home runs and nine RBIs in six games against them since leaving following the 2014 season.
Baltimore (23-14) managed two hits in its second straight loss following a seven-game win streak.
The Orioles have yet to lose three in a row at home this season, a fate they'll try to avoid against Taijuan Walker (2-2, 2.63). After posting a 1.44 ERA through his first four starts, the right-hander has gone 0-2 with a 4.97 ERA in his past three.
He cruised through the first five innings last Wednesday against Tampa Bay, but yielded two walks and a double before giving up Corey Dickerson's grand slam in the sixth in the Mariners' 6-5, 11-inning victory. Walker finished with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
He went 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in two starts against the Orioles last season. Walker allowed four runs, seven hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings of a 9-4 road loss to Baltimore on May 19.
- SEATTLE: 2
BALTIMORE: 5
Final
Sep 26 12:09 PM - SEATTLE: 2
BALTIMORE: 5
Top 9, 2 Outs
May 18 10:07 PM - Jonathan Schoop out on a sacrifice fly to right field to Seth Smith. Ryan Flaherty to second. Matt Wieters scores.
Mariners 2, Orioles 5 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 18 9:51 PM - Schoop hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder S.Smith, Wieters scored.
Mariners 2, Orioles 4 Bot 8, 1 OutMay 18 9:51 PM - Mark Trumbo grounds out to shortstop, Ketel Marte to Adam Lind.
Mariners 2, Orioles 4 Bot 5, 2 OutsMay 18 8:45 PM - Matt Wieters doubles to deep center field. Mark Trumbo scores.
Mariners 2, Orioles 3 Bot 4, 1 OutMay 18 8:21 PM - Iannetta hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder A.Jones, Cruz scored.
Mariners 1, Orioles 2 Top 4, 1 OutMay 18 8:12 PM - Chris Iannetta out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Adam Jones. Nelson Cruz scores.
Mariners 2, Orioles 2 Top 4, 1 OutMay 18 8:12 PM - Nori Aoki pops out to catcher to Manny Machado.
May 18 7:08 PM
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