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O's rely on Tillman in opener with Jays

Sep 24, 2013 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Breakout right-hander Chris Tillman makes his third attempt at a career-best 17th victory on Tuesday night when the Baltimore Orioles open a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Tillman, who'd peaked at nine wins in 15 starts for the Orioles last season, picked up his 16th victory of 2013 three starts ago against the New York Yankees on Sept. 9, when he allowed two runs in seven innings of a 4-2 triumph.

He's faced the Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox in two starts since and come out a loser both times while allowing seven runs on 13 hits in 15 innings of work.

The 4-3 loss at Toronto on Sept. 14 dropped his career record against the Blue Jays to 3-3 in nine outings with a 4.18 earned run average.

The start is the 40th of Tillman's career at Camden Yards, where he's 16-10 with a 4.32 ERA in 223 innings.

For Toronto, veteran Todd Redmond tries for a fourth consecutive victory.

The 28-year-old was 1-2 after a 12-4 loss at Houston on Aug. 23, but has since defeated the Yankees, Arizona and the Yankees again, along with a no-decision against Baltimore.

In those four starts, he's allowed seven runs on 14 hits in 24 innings.

He's gotten no-decisions in two previous meetings with the Orioles while posting a 3.48 ERA in 10 1/3 innings.

On Monday in Chicago, Marcus Semien went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer to lead the White Sox to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays in the makeup of a previously scheduled rainout.

J.P. Arencibia cracked a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of their last four to fall to a disappointing 71-85 on the year.

J.A. Happ (4-7) allowed all three Chicago runs over five innings to absorb the loss.

In Tampa Bay, James Loney's pinch-hit solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a late rally that propelled the Rays to a 5-4 victory over the Orioles and a four-game series sweep at Tropicana Field.

The Rays had previously battled back from a 4-2 deficit by scoring twice in the seventh, and Loney's liner into the seats off Tommy Hunter (6-5) sent the Orioles to a deflating loss that has the club's playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Baltimore, which has now dropped five in a row overall, trails Cleveland by five games for the AL's second wild card spot with just six remaining.

The Orioles suffered another damaging setback during the game, as All-Star third baseman Manny Machado had to be carted off the field after injuring his left leg during the seventh inning.

Machado had gone 2-for-4 with a run scored prior to exiting, while Chris Davis clubbed his 52nd homer of the season -- a two-run shot in the fourth inning -- for Baltimore. Brian Roberts added a solo homer in defeat.

The Blue Jays and White Sox split the first six games they played in 2013, a year after Chicago won the season series, 6-4.