Tillman, Orioles hand Royals seventh straight loss
BALTIMORE -- Ryan Flaherty hit a key two-run double and Chris Tillman threw 7 1/3 shutout innings as the Baltimore Orioles handed the Kansas City Royals their seventh straight loss, 4-0 in the series finale Wednesday.
The Orioles (35-23) swept the three-game series and have won four straight and seven of eight. In addition, they are a season-high 12 games over .500.
For Kansas City (30-29), the skid is its longest of the season.
Tillman (8-1) turned in a dominant performance en route to winning his seventh straight decision. He scattered eight hits while matching a career high with nine strikeouts and not walking a batter.
He threw 110 pitches -- 81 for strikes. The right-hander gave up two hits in the eighth, and Brad Brach came on and got out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs.
Brach finished it in the ninth to earn his second save.
Flaherty is hitting better lately after a slow start. He went 1-for-3 and has hits in eight of his last 10 games, moving his average from .175 to .217.
Kansas City starter Edinson Volquez (5-6) started strong but ended poorly. He retired the first seven Orioles and gave up only one hit through four shutout innings before giving up four runs on three hits with two key walks in the fifth as Baltimore scored all four of its runs.
Volquez allowed four runs on four hits through his 4 2/3 innings and has lost his last two starts.
The four-run fourth was the main inning where Baltimore did much on offense as Kansas City outhit the Orioles 9-4.
Neither team did much offensively early. The Orioles left a runner on third in the third but finally broke through with four runs in the fifth.
They loaded the bases with one out thanks to walks to Jonathan Schoop and Nolan Reimold sandwiched around a Pedro Alvarez single. Flaherty then lined a two-run double over the head of right fielder Paulo Orlando for a 2-0 lead.
Adam Jones followed with a sacrifice fly for the third run before Hyun Soo Kim ended Volquez’s night with an RBI single that made it 4-0.
NOTES: Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles have yet to hear anything from Major League Baseball after last night's brawl involving 3B/SS Manny Machado. The team expects that Machado will receive some penalty and will react depending upon what's handed down. The Royals also haven't heard anything about RHP Yordano Ventura. ... C Caleb Joseph (testicular injury/surgery) will report to Double-A Bowie, about 30 minutes from Oriole Park, on June 14 to slowly start rehab work. He won't be able to catch just yet but might be able to play as a DH. ... Orioles 1B Chris Davis will get his first day off this season. Showalter said he's battling a few minor issues, including a thumb problem. But Davis will return Thursday in Toronto. ... The Royals recalled INF Christian Colon from Triple-A Omaha and optioned C Tony Cruz to the same team. ... Royals OF Brett Eibner will start a rehab assignment with Omaha on Thursday. He has been on the disabled list since June 1 (left ankle sprain).