Orioles edge Tigers on Tillman's HR
BALTIMORE -- Adam Jones hit his 200th career homer and Chris Tillman threw seven shutout innings as the Baltimore Orioles stretched their winning streak to six games with a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
The Orioles (22-12) could not do much against Detroit starter Justin Verlander (2-4), scoring the lone run when Jones homered in the sixth inning.
Tillman (5-1) struggled a little in the early going before settling into a rhythm. He gave up two hits in the first inning and four in the first three innings but then retired 10 in a row, not allowing another hit until a seventh-inning double by Nick Castellanos, who was stranded.
Overall, the right-hander allowed five hits and struck out seven with two walks in his fourth straight victory. He threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes, and worked both sides of the plate effectively.
Darren O'Day took care of the eighth and Zach Britton came on in the ninth and posted his 10th save.
Verlander was a hard-luck loser. He did not give up many hard-hit balls until Jones sent the first pitch of his sixth-inning at-bat into the Baltimore bullpen in left-center field, giving the Orioles the 1-0 lead.
The right-hander threw 112 pitches, 75 for strikes, and faced just one batter with a runner in scoring position. He struck out eight, walked two and went the distance.
Jones finished 2-for-3 and now is 11-for-17 since May 10, heating up after a slow start.
The Tigers (15-20) have lost three in a row and 10 of their last 11.
Detroit had runners on first and second with one out in the second, but Jose Iglesias grounded into an inning-ending double play.
NOTES: Former Oriole Scott McGregor will take over as the team's pitching coach for four games starting Saturday while pitching coach Dave Wallace leaves to take care of a personal matter. McGregor is in the Orioles Hall of Fame as one of the top left-handed pitchers in franchise history. ... RHP Yovani Gallardo, on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, will make 25 throws (60 feet in distance) on flat ground Saturday. There's still no timetable yet on his possible return; he has been on the DL since April 23. ... The Tigers purchased the contract of RHP Warwick Saupold from Triple-A Toledo on Friday. Saupold, an Australian, had a 3-1 record with a 2.37 ERA in eight games for the Mud Hens. LHP Daniel Norris was optioned to Toledo. ... OF Cameron Maybin went 0-for-3 at Toledo in his rehab assignment. He's now hitting .196 in 14 games, having been out since fracturing his left wrist on March 25.