Tillman Allows 4 Hits As Orioles Beat Braves 2-0 For Sweep
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Chris Tillman took a three-hitter into the ninth inning, Jonathan Schoop and J.J. Hardy homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the skidding Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.
Tillman (8-7) was lifted after giving up a two-out double to Cameron Maybin in the ninth. The right-hander had retired 13 straight batters to that point.
Zach Britton got the final out for his 26th save.
Tillman struck out two and walked none in winning his sixth straight decision since May 31. He's 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in his last six starts.
The victory was the fifth straight for Baltimore, tying a season high. The surge has carried the Orioles within one game of Minnesota for the second AL wild-card slot.
Baltimore has allowed only seven runs during its winning streak, which includes its first sweep of Atlanta since 1999.
Since reaching .500 on July 7, the Braves have lost 13 of 17 overall and 10 of 11 on the road.
Recalled from Triple-A before the game, Mike Foltynewicz (3-3) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
After the start of the game was delayed by rain for 33 minutes, Tillman went to work. He faced the minimum nine batters over the first three innings, the lone runner reaching on an error before being erased on a double play.
Schoop hit Foltynewicz's first pitch of the third inning over the wall in center field for a 1-0 lead.
Nick Markakis got Atlanta's initial hit leading off the fourth but was wiped out on a double play. Hardy homered in the bottom half, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
That proved to be more than enough offense for Tillman, who allowed only two runners to reach second base.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: LHP Manny Banuelos (posterior elbow spur) will report to the team's spring training facility in Florida, manager Fredi Gonzalez said. There is no timetable for his return from the DL. ... RHP Williams Perez (bruised left foot) is up to 80 pitches per outing on his rehabilitation assignment, according to Gonzalez.
Orioles: 1B/OF Steve Pearce (strained left oblique) is at least a week away from starting baseball activities.
ON DECK
Braves: Atlanta opens a four-game series in Philadelphia on Thursday night. Braves starter Shelby Miller is 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA in three games vs. the Phillies this year.
Orioles: Former Oriole Alfredo Simon takes the mound for Detroit on Thursday night to open a four-game series at Camden Yards.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
