Baltimore Vs. Detroit
Baltimore's Chris Tillman set a high standard in his first start of the year.
After exiting nine outs shy of a no-hitter, Tillman will take the mound Thursday night for the Orioles, who conclude a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
Tillman was outstanding Saturday against Tampa Bay, pitching six hitless innings in a 3-1 win. He walked three and struck out five, but was pulled after 101 pitches.
The 22-year-old right-hander wasn't surprised by being removed from the game.
"No, I was real inefficient the first couple innings," said Tillman, who threw 21 pitches in the first. "Maybe a month down the road from now, I might still be in the game."
Tillman went 2-5 with a 5.87 ERA in 11 starts last season, splitting time between the minor and major leagues.
"I don't think anybody expected that (performance)," closer Kevin Gregg told the Orioles' official website. "We all know he's a good pitcher, but to take this Rays lineup and do what he did to it, it was fun to watch."
Tillman's impressive debut probably wouldn't surprise Detroit. He went 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts against the Tigers last season, holding them to a .091 batting average.
He'll take the mound after a shaky start by Brad Bergesen in the Orioles' 7-3 loss Wednesday. Bergesen failed to continue an outstanding stretch by Baltimore's rotation, giving up four runs - two earned - and five hits in 3 2-3 innings.
The starting staff came in having given up two runs over 26 innings. The Orioles (4-1) also were trying to match a franchise-record 5-0 start in 1970.
However, the Tigers (2-3) finished with 12 hits. Alex Avila had three of them, including a homer and a career-high five RBIs, and Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez also went deep.
"I was more aggressive with my swings, that's for sure," said Avila, who came in 1 for 10 with four strikeouts.
Looking to reach .500, Detroit will hand the ball for Brad Penny as he looks to avoid duplicating the early struggles in his Tigers debut Saturday during a 10-6 loss to the New York Yankees.
Penny gave up three runs in the first and second innings and was finished after 4 1-3 innings, having given up eight runs, seven hits and four walks.
"I think he was just a little bit pumped up," pitching coach Rick Knapp told the Tigers' official website, "and that works against a sinkerballer."
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA in two starts against Baltimore. Both outings came in 2009 while with Boston.
The Orioles' Derrek Lee, who faced Penny several times in the National League playing for the Chicago Cubs, is 6 for 16 with three doubles against the veteran. Lee hit his first American League home run and 313th of his career Wednesday.
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