• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Tillman stellar in return to bigs

Jul 5, 2012 - 12:54 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Chris Tillman pitched into the ninth inning on Wednesday and the Orioles downed the Mariners, 4-2, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

It was the first start of the season for Tillman (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk prior to the game. He was charged with two unearned runs on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in a career-high 8 1/3 innings.

"Oh, he was great," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "He handled the fastball; curveball was a big pitch for him. Got the change up going later in the game just to give a different wrinkle. Frustrating he couldn't finish it off because he had the stuff to pitch a complete game today."

Adam Jones homered for Baltimore, which won two straight to end the series, halting a three-game skid in the process.

Hector Noesi (2-11) gave up four runs on seven hits over five innings. He has lost eight straight decisions, with his last win coming on May 6.

"He has to be more aggressive. We just need him to take that next step," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge.

Kyle Seager and Justin Smoak both had a ninth-inning RBI for Seattle.

Robert Andino, who had a fifth-inning RBI single, committed an error on Michael Saunders' grounder to begin the ninth. Saunders moved to third on John Jaso's one-out double, which marked the end of Tillman's outing.

Jim Johnson allowed Seager's run scoring groundout and Smoak's RBI single before retiring Miguel Olivio to pick up his 25th save of the season.

Jones' leadoff homer in the second inning -- his 20th of the season -- gave the Orioles and early lead, which they added to in the third.

Mark Reynolds and Andino began the frame with consecutive singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. J.J. Hardy followed with an RBI groundout before Chris Davis singled to right, making it 3-0.

"Adam got us off to a good start, but Tillman was the story today," said Showalter.

Game Notes

Tillman was optioned to Double-A Bowie after the game. He made 13 starts for the Orioles a season ago...Baltimore is 32-0 this season when leading after seven innings...Noesi is 0-8 over his last 11 starts...Mariners catcher Jesus Montero left the game in the fifth inning after being struck in the mask by a foul ball.