masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Kevin Gausman threw 20 pitches in the top of the first inning today and fell behind 1-0 to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium.
John Jaso drew an eight-pitch walk with one out and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera’s double to left-center field.
Manny Machado got the final out by backhanding James Loney’s bouncer and making the throw from foul territory. It wasn’t even close at first base. Vintage Machado.
Chris Tillman stepped outside the clubhouse earlier today to meet with reporters and…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Kevin Gausman threw 20 pitches in the top of the first inning today and fell behind 1-0 to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium.

John Jaso drew an eight-pitch walk with one out and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera’s double to left-center field.

Manny Machado got the final out by backhanding James Loney’s bouncer and making the throw from foul territory. It wasn’t even close at first base. Vintage Machado.

Chris Tillman stepped outside the clubhouse earlier today to meet with reporters and talk about his opening day assignment.

tillman-pitching-alds-white-sidebar.pngWhen did he find out?

“Right now when you guys started asking me,” he said with a grin. “No, they told me earlier. They let me know today.

“It means a lot. I think when we’ve got five guys who are capable of doing it, that makes it that much more special. And I think every guy in here thinks the same way. We really do have five guys.

“There’s only opening day, the first game, once and then the rest of the season it’s our best guys going that night. I think as a group, we all feel that way and I’m just excited to get this thing under way.”

Is Tillman being rewarded for his last two seasons?

“I don’t know. You’d have to ask them,” he replied. “I just go out and do my job and wherever the chips may fall, they fall. I think it’s not the way I think, it’s the way we think as a group. I think that says a lot.”

Jeremy Guthrie was the last Orioles pitcher to make back-to-back opening day starts in 2008-09.

“I think it’s an accomplishment,” Tillman said. “I take a lot of pride in making all my starts. I think you guys know that. I think any time you’re able to do that twice, it means you’re making all your starts. It means you’re healthy and you’re staying on the field.

“I think it goes to show what the organization is doing. Our trainers are the ones who keep me on the field. Our strength coaches do (their job). It’s a big puzzle and everybody works for it. It’s not just me. I’m going out and pitching, but there are guys in here who are doing the dirty work for me. The catchers are on the same page, too.”

How much better is Tillman this spring compared to last opening day?

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Every game you learn something. Every game in the dugout, Buck (Showalter) makes his rounds and asks a question about a certain play. I think having guys like that around keeps you on your toes and if you pay attention and get into it, you kind of have to be.

“I think just the experience of doing it once (helps). Hopefully, I’m able to control myself a little bit better this year.”

The Orioles opened against the Red Sox last season and Tillman allowed one run and seven hits in five innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. He threw 104 pitches, 71 for strikes.

“Last year, I was excited, I got the nerves going,” he said. “This year, I’d like to handle it a little better.”

And get the Orioles started on the right foot.

“You try to get on a roll from the get-go,” said Tillman, who’s allowed three runs and 10 hits in 11 1/3 Grapefruit League innings, with two walks and 10 strikeouts. “I think that’s important for the team and as a pitcher. I think momentum is everything in this game and if you can establish that in the first game, you’re probably going to have a good series. I think that’s the most important thing. You want to come out of the series with a series win, but it starts with Game 1 and the first pitch.”

Tillman gets to make another start at Tropicana Field, where he’s 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts.

“The Trop is different,” he said. “I don’t mind it. It’s just another start, but it wouldn’t be my first place to pick to pitch. It’s fun, though. You go there (many) times a year. It’s good to throw a game there. It’s a wrinkle, but I like it.

“It’s a good mound, a good bullpen. We get our work in when we need to. It’s a good facility. It’s good for the players. You’re never going to have a rainout there.”

Tillman, 26, has taken on a leadership role inside the clubhouse. He’s a veteran now, even if it feels a little strange.

“It is weird,” he said. “I don’t take it for granted. It’s fun, we have a fun group. I’m not used to it by any means because I still ask guys that are younger than me how to do stuff, so I’m not used to it.

“I don’t look at it that way. We’re here as a group, we’re here together. We honestly talk probably too much during the game about how to get through innings. It’s fun to be a part of. (But) I can’t. I’m not past that, no.”

Showalter knew Tillman was going to start on opening day before the Orioles reported to camp.

“I’m not lessening it at all,” Showalter said. “It’s an honor. I’d like to think about the history of pitchers in Baltimore over the years. I’ve always felt like the sky’s the limit with Chris. You always feel like he’s got even another level he can go to. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look as solid all-around as he has this spring, knock on wood.

“The thing about Tilly is if he doesn’t make it out of the second inning, he isn’t going to be the same guy next time out. There’s a certain consistency that you look for with that spot.”

Asked more about Tillman reaching the next level, Showalter said, “He feels that, too. You saw that at times last year. Very seldom is he going to carry all four pitches, but when he does, he can make it look easy, and it’s not. He’s got the fastball that doesn’t have to be 93, 94 to be successful. He’s got a deceptive presentation in how he delivers the ball, and we’ve been careful not to take that away from him. He’s in a comfort level with his delivery now after a lot of things over the years.

“Guys that can kind of correct themselves over the course of an inning, that’s when you know guys are kind of starting to figure it out a little better, and he also understands that more is not always better. There’s a time to back off and guys that can minimize damage. His last time, he had first and third and nobody out, and the next thing you know, he gave up one run and he didn’t really let the inning get away from him.”

Tillman has exceeded 200 innings the past two seasons, a mark teammates are trying to approach for the first time.

“I think it’s a nice bar that they’re all striving for,” Showalter said. “They know what it means to the team more than anything, to have that guy. That’s the thing that allows the club to be consistent over the course of the season, consistency of the starting pitchers. A lot of things work off that, and not just the bullpen.”

schoop-fielding-gray-sidebar.jpgTillman wasn’t the only subject during Showalter’s pregame session with the media. The vacant shortstop position is a hot topic, and Showalter included Paul Janish and Jayson Nix as options to replace J.J. Hardy.

What about second baseman Jonathan Schoop?

“Jonathan, I wouldn’t do it unless it is late in the game, somewhere where we’re just trying to get through a game and it doesn’t matter. Real, real cautious about taking guys into a spot that might put them in harm’s way physically,” Showalter said.

What about Machado?

“We’re looking at all possibilities, all possible scenarios,” Showalter said. “I don’t have any doubt that we have a number of guys that could do it, including Manny, but you’ve got to be careful about robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Update: Gausman has thrown 60 pitches in three innings, 43 for strikes, and trails 4-0.

The Rays scored three runs in the third, when Gausman threw 26 pitches. David DeJesus led off with a homer, Desmond Jennings had a sacrifice fly and Logan Forsythe had an RBI double.

Caleb Joseph was charged with an error on a misplayed popup in foul territory and Everth Cabrera threw late to second while attempting to get the force, allowing Loney to reach. Not a crisp inning.

The Orioles signed left-hander Jhanathan Ramos from the independent Wichita Wingnuts, according to a tweet from the American Association. He had been in the Pirates system since 2007, going 40-24 with a 3.40 ERA in 205 minor league appearances, including 50 starts.

Update II: Gausman allowed four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, with one walk, no strikeouts and one home run. He threw 77 pitches, 52 for strikes.

Jason Garcia replaced Gausman and retired Asdrubal Cabrera on a fly ball to strand a runner.