Time running out as Orioles host Mariners (Aug 28, 2017)
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles need to make some kind of a run if they want a better chance of making it into postseason play.
They just may be starting to do that.
After sweeping the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park over the weekend, the Orioles (65-65) own a four-game winning streak and finally are back at .500. They hope to find more success when the Seattle Mariners come to town for the start of a three-game series Monday night at Camden Yards.
Entering the series, Seattle (66-65) is 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card, and the Orioles are two games behind the Twins.
"Still a long way to go," Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones said Sunday after the Orioles' 2-1 victory at Boston. "We just try to play our game and try to get to Sept. 1 with a position to make a move at somebody."
Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman, moved back to the bullpen by manager Buck Showalter after struggling throughout the season, will make a spot start Monday as the skipper tries to find extra rest for his other starters.
Tillman (1-7, 7.75 ERA) has started just once since Aug. 3, getting a no-decision vs. the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 20.
He was inconsistent in that game also, lasting 5 1/3 innings but allowing four runs on four hits while walking six and striking out only two. His command proved inconsistent once more.
Tillman, though, is 7-1 with a 3.30 ERA against the Mariners in his career.
He will go against Seattle left-hander Marco Gonzales (0-1, 7.40 ERA overall), who has pitched against Baltimore just once in his career.
That happened earlier this month. In an Aug. 16 start in Seattle, Gonzales allowed four runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings and got a no-decision in the Mariners' 7-6 victory.
While the Orioles were sweeping first-place Boston, the Mariners were dropping two of three against the New York Yankees.
To make Seattle's 10-1 loss even worse Sunday, the Mariners committed five errors in the first inning. It was a franchise record for errors in one inning, and the most by any team since the Chicago Cubs had five miscues in a 1977 games.
"Yeah, there was a couple of big errors there; we don't want to make an error," shortstop Jean Segura said after committing three errors himself in the opening inning. "I think everybody is ready to play and continue as a team and win some ballgames, but it happens. It happened crazy today, but it happens."
On the injury front, MLB.com reported that Jarrod Dyson could have come off disabled list Sunday but his strained right groin wasn't 100 percent. He will test it again Monday in Baltimore.
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano came back Sunday after a sore left hamstring sidelined him for two starts, and he went 1-for-3.
For the Orioles, closer Zach Britton did not pitch in the Boston series partially because of recent left knee problems that necessitated an MRI.
He last pitched Wednesday, when his streak of converting 60 consecutive save opportunities ended against the Oakland A's. Britton threw before the Sunday game, but Brad Brach got the game's final five outs for his 17th save.
Showalter hopes to have Britton back Monday.
"Today, he felt good," Showalter said Sunday. "We feel like if we could get one more day that he'd be a pitcher for us tomorrow. But we'll see what it brings."
