Tillman, Davis, Hardy power Orioles past Angels
BALTIMORE -- Chris Tillman allowed one run over seven innings and Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy each homered to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
Baltimore has won four out of five and lead the American League East by two games over Toronto and Boston heading into the All-Star break.
Tillman (12-2) struggled early with his command but managed to work his way out of a couple jams. He eventually settled down and held Los Angeles to three hits with five strikeouts and five walks, one shy of tying a season-high.
Adam Jones and Pedro Alvarez had three hits apiece for the Orioles, who own the best home record in Major League Baseball at 33-14. Baltimore also leads the league with 137 homers.
Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim, who is batting .329, left the game in the first inning with a right hamstring strain and was replaced by Joey Rickard. Los Angeles third baseman Yunel Escobar was ejected while on the field in the seventh by home plate umpire Tim Timmons.
The Angels cut the margin to 3-2 in the eighth as Kole Calhoun singled and took third when the ball got past Orioles right fielder Mark Trumbo. Two batters later, Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice fly off Brad Brach. Hardy provided an insurance run with a solo shot in the eighth off Huston Street for his first homer since April 12.
Zach Britton picked up his league-leading 27th save with a scoreless ninth.
Tim Lincecum (1-3), who is trying to resurrect his career with the Angels, allowed three runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. His ERA is 6.85 over his six starts.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first when Calhoun walked and scored on a double by Mike Trout off the right-field scoreboard. Calhoun was initially called out at the plate on a relay from second baseman Jonathan Schoop to catcher Matt Wieters. However, the play was reviewed and the call was reversed after 2 minutes and 42 seconds.
After Trumbo singled in the fourth, Davis provided a 2-1 lead with a towering shot to left off Lincecum for his 22nd home run of the season. Baltimore increased the margin to 3-1 an inning later when Jones led off with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt by Rickard and scored.
The Orioles took a 3-1 lead in the sixth when a blooper by Alvarez fell between left fielder Ji-Man Choi and shortstop Andrelton Simmons. A throwing error by Simmons allowed him to take third and Hardy followed with a hard single up the middle.
NOTES: Orioles RHP Mychal Givens might avoid paternity leave if his wife gives birth Monday in Florida. If that occurs, Givens could rejoin the team Friday in Tampa Bay. "I don't want to look at it too selfishly here," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia still has not set a rotation to begin Friday's three-game series with the Chicago White Sox. ... Baltimore RHP and set-up man, Darren O' Day (strained right hamstring), threw on flat ground Sunday, but still isn't sure when he will return to the team. O'Day will travel to the Orioles' minor-league facility in Sarasota, Fla., during the All-Star break. ... Angels RHP Cory Rasmus (core injury) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list after undergoing surgery Thursday in Philadelphia. ... The Orioles outrighted RHP David Hale to Triple-A Norfolk, removing him from the 40-man roster.