BALTIMORE -- Chris Tillman has transcended his role as the ace of the Baltimore Orioles.
Unbeaten since April 14, and riding a seven-game winning streak, the right-hander has earned the right to be considered among the best pitchers in the American League.
Tillman pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Ryan Flaherty drove in two runs and the Orioles extended the Kansas City Royals' losing streak to seven games with a 4-0 victory Wednesday night.
Tillman (8-1) allowed eight hits over 7 1/3 innings, matched his career high with nine strikeouts and walked none. He is unbeaten in 10 starts since April 14, 6-0 at home and tied for second in the AL in wins.
"I think fastball command from the get-go was pretty spot on," Tillman said." I felt pretty good in the bullpen coming in and I was able to carry it over."
In equaling his career high for successive wins, Tillman lowered his ERA to 3.01. A year ago, he finished 11-11 with a 4.99 ERA.
"You can make a heck of a living going 11-11 in the big leagues," manager Buck Showalter said. "But Chris wants to be better than that because he knows he's capable of it and wants to bring what the club needs."
Showalter believes the 28-year-old Tillman now understands what it takes to win.
"It's a certain maturity factor. It's tunnel vision toward that day you pitch," the manager said. "Everything you do is leading into that. That's where he is now. He relishes the day he gets to do his thing."
Brad Brach got the final five outs to earn his second save and help the Orioles complete their first three-game sweep of Kansas City since May 2011. Baltimore has won four straight and seven of eight.
The Orioles took control with a four-run fifth inning against Edinson Volquez (5-6). Flaherty had the key hit, a bases-loaded double that broke open a 0-0 game. Adam Jones followed with a sacrifice fly and Hyun Soo Kim capped the uprising with an RBI single.
Salvador Perez had two hits for the Royals, who have been outscored 42-8 during a skid that's dropped them from first place to third in the AL Central. The defending World Series champions have scored four runs over their last six games and been blanked twice.
"Tillman was pretty darn good tonight, I'm going to tell you that," manager Ned Yost said. "Guys were having trouble picking up his fastball."
The last time Kansas City lost seven straight was in August 2013.
"It's very frustrating because I know we're all capable of playing a lot better," center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "We're all struggling. We have to find a way to get it going."
Volquez was exceptionally sharp over the first four innings, retiring 12 of 13 batters and allowing just one hit. The trouble started after he got the first out in the fifth.
Two walks and a single preceded the key hit by Flaherty, who began the game batting .213.
There was no extension of the hostility created Tuesday night, when the teams emptied their dugouts in a fray that started when Kansas City's Yordano Ventura hit Manny Machado with a pitch.
"It was water under the bridge as soon as we left here last night," Brach said. "Guys came here ready to play."
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was given the day off, his first of the season. Although Davis is in a 3-for-29 slump, Showalter said the break was designed to allow some bumps and bruises to heal.
ROSTER MOVE
The Royals made an adjustment to their bench, calling up utility INF Christian Colon from Triple-A Omaha and optioning No. 3 C Tony Cruz to the same affiliate.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Yost said no one on the team was injured in the bench-clearing fray.
Orioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder tendinitis) said he experienced "normal soreness, nothing crazy" after his second rehab start. If his bullpen session Thursday goes well, Gallardo could come off the DL next week.
UP NEXT
Royals: After taking Thursday off, KC opens a three-game series on the road against the White Sox. Ian Kennedy (4-4, 3.44 ERA) will seek his first win in six starts.
Orioles: Tyler Wilson (2-5, 4.39) starts in Toronto on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the defending AL East champs.
Kansas City Royals
Unbeaten since April 14, and riding a seven-game winning streak, the right-hander has earned the right to be considered among the best pitchers in the American League.
Tillman pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Ryan Flaherty drove in two runs and the Orioles extended the Kansas City Royals' losing streak to seven games with a 4-0 victory Wednesday night.
Tillman (8-1) allowed eight hits over 7 1/3 innings, matched his career high with nine strikeouts and walked none. He is unbeaten in 10 starts since April 14, 6-0 at home and tied for second in the AL in wins.
"I think fastball command from the get-go was pretty spot on," Tillman said." I felt pretty good in the bullpen coming in and I was able to carry it over."
In equaling his career high for successive wins, Tillman lowered his ERA to 3.01. A year ago, he finished 11-11 with a 4.99 ERA.
"You can make a heck of a living going 11-11 in the big leagues," manager Buck Showalter said. "But Chris wants to be better than that because he knows he's capable of it and wants to bring what the club needs."
Showalter believes the 28-year-old Tillman now understands what it takes to win.
"It's a certain maturity factor. It's tunnel vision toward that day you pitch," the manager said. "Everything you do is leading into that. That's where he is now. He relishes the day he gets to do his thing."
Brad Brach got the final five outs to earn his second save and help the Orioles complete their first three-game sweep of Kansas City since May 2011. Baltimore has won four straight and seven of eight.
The Orioles took control with a four-run fifth inning against Edinson Volquez (5-6). Flaherty had the key hit, a bases-loaded double that broke open a 0-0 game. Adam Jones followed with a sacrifice fly and Hyun Soo Kim capped the uprising with an RBI single.
Salvador Perez had two hits for the Royals, who have been outscored 42-8 during a skid that's dropped them from first place to third in the AL Central. The defending World Series champions have scored four runs over their last six games and been blanked twice.
"Tillman was pretty darn good tonight, I'm going to tell you that," manager Ned Yost said. "Guys were having trouble picking up his fastball."
The last time Kansas City lost seven straight was in August 2013.
"It's very frustrating because I know we're all capable of playing a lot better," center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "We're all struggling. We have to find a way to get it going."
Volquez was exceptionally sharp over the first four innings, retiring 12 of 13 batters and allowing just one hit. The trouble started after he got the first out in the fifth.
Two walks and a single preceded the key hit by Flaherty, who began the game batting .213.
There was no extension of the hostility created Tuesday night, when the teams emptied their dugouts in a fray that started when Kansas City's Yordano Ventura hit Manny Machado with a pitch.
"It was water under the bridge as soon as we left here last night," Brach said. "Guys came here ready to play."
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was given the day off, his first of the season. Although Davis is in a 3-for-29 slump, Showalter said the break was designed to allow some bumps and bruises to heal.
ROSTER MOVE
The Royals made an adjustment to their bench, calling up utility INF Christian Colon from Triple-A Omaha and optioning No. 3 C Tony Cruz to the same affiliate.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Yost said no one on the team was injured in the bench-clearing fray.
Orioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder tendinitis) said he experienced "normal soreness, nothing crazy" after his second rehab start. If his bullpen session Thursday goes well, Gallardo could come off the DL next week.
UP NEXT
Royals: After taking Thursday off, KC opens a three-game series on the road against the White Sox. Ian Kennedy (4-4, 3.44 ERA) will seek his first win in six starts.
Orioles: Tyler Wilson (2-5, 4.39) starts in Toronto on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the defending AL East champs.
7:05PM,EDT,June 8,2016
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Kansas City - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Escobar grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Merrifield grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Cain lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Jones grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Kim grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Machado struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Hosmer flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Pérez singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Morales struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Orlando struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Trumbo struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Wieters grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Schoop grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Cuthbert doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Dyson bunt popped into double play, third to shortstop, Cuthbert doubled off second. | 0 | 0 |
| Escobar reached on bunt single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Merrifield grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Álvarez struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Reimold doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Flaherty grounded out to second, Reimold to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Jones flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Cain grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Hosmer singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Pérez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Hosmer out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Morales grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Kim grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Machado struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Trumbo struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Orlando struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Cuthbert struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Dyson struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Wieters grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Schoop walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Álvarez singled to right, Schoop to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Reimold walked, Schoop to third, Álvarez to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Flaherty doubled to deep right, Schoop and Álvarez scored, Reimold to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Jones hit sacrifice fly to left, Reimold scored. | 0 | 3 |
| Kim singled to center, Flaherty scored. | 0 | 4 |
| Hochevar relieved Vólquez. | 0 | 4 |
| Kim stole second. | 0 | 4 |
| Machado flied out to center. | 0 | 4 |
| 4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Merrifield grounded out to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Cain struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Luke Hochevar pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Trumbo struck out looking. | 0 | 4 |
| Wieters walked. | 0 | 4 |
| Schoop fouled out to right. | 0 | 4 |
| Álvarez grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Hosmer grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Pérez singled to left. | 0 | 4 |
| Morales struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Orlando singled to right, Pérez to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Cuthbert struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Joakim Soria pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Soria relieved Hochevar. | 0 | 4 |
| Reimold walked. | 0 | 4 |
| Flaherty struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Jones grounded into fielder's choice to second, Reimold out at second. | 0 | 4 |
| Kim flied out to left. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Chris Tillman pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Dyson singled to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Escobar flied out to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Merrifield singled to left, Dyson to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Brach relieved Tillman. | 0 | 4 |
| Cain struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Hosmer walked, Dyson to third, Merrifield to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Pérez lined out to left. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Wade Davis pitching for Kansas City | KC | BAL |
| Davis relieved Soria. | 0 | 4 |
| Machado grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 4 |
| Trumbo struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Wieters grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Brad Brach pitching for Baltimore | KC | BAL |
| Morales singled to left. | 0 | 4 |
| Orlando lined out to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Cuthbert struck out looking. | 0 | 4 |
| Dyson struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Kansas City Royals
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escobar SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .248 | .274 | .295 |
| Merrifield 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .315 | .333 | .411 |
| Cain CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .286 | .339 | .427 |
| Hosmer DH | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | .321 | .381 | .520 |
| Pérez C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | .272 | .304 | .473 |
| Morales 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .204 | .270 | .333 |
| Orlando RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .333 | .352 | .425 |
| Cuthbert 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | .262 | .283 | .359 |
| Dyson LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .264 | .333 | .327 |
| Totals | 35 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 138 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Cuthbert (4, Tillman) Royals RISP: 0-4 (Dyson 0-1, Cuthbert 0-1, Pérez 0-1, Cain 0-1) Team LOB: 9 | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD |
| Attendance | 19,178 (41.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:47 |
| Weather | 67 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 6 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - CB Bucknor, First Base - Fieldin Culbreth, Second Base - Jim Reynolds, Third Base - Manny Gonzalez |
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