masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter watching Chris Tillman hold the Tigers to one run on three hits over seven innings in game one, the O’s had to be hoping Jeremy Guthrie could duplicate that outing in game two vs. Detroit.

He did even better.

Guthrie gave up just two singles over eight shutout innings in the Orioles 2-1 win as they swept a doubleheader.

Guthrie and Tillman combined to give up just five hits and one run over 15 innings tonight.

“It feels real good to go out there and give this kind of effort as a…After watching Chris Tillman hold the Tigers to one run on three hits over seven innings in game one, the O’s had to be hoping Jeremy Guthrie could duplicate that outing in game two vs. Detroit.

He did even better.

Guthrie gave up just two singles over eight shutout innings in the Orioles 2-1 win as they swept a doubleheader.

Guthrie and Tillman combined to give up just five hits and one run over 15 innings tonight.

“It feels real good to go out there and give this kind of effort as a team, win a low-scoring game and come up with the big hits. And individually to finish on a nice note with a win,” Guthrie, who is now 11-14, 3.83, said.

He pitched to an ERA of just 2.76 in 14 starts after the All-Star game.

“I felt like something clicked in terms of feeling that confidence if I’m aggressive and throw strikes, keep it down more consistently, that good things will happen and I can get deeper in the game. I feel like I did a better job in the second half of doing that consistently and having longer outings and pitching better as a result.”

It’s also the second year in a row he didn’t miss a single start and pitched 200 or more innings, finishing with 209 1/3.

“That’s the goal every year because I think everything else is beyond my control, and that is to an extent as well. But to make every start, if you do that a lot of good things can happen. You can log some innings, you can accumulate some wins, you’re there for your team, you alleviate the stress on the other starters and the bullpen as well.”

Guthrie, who has not pitched a complete-game shutout in his career, did make four starts this year without allowing a run. All four came over his last nine outings.

After winning just three of his first 19 starts, Guthrie went 8-4, 2.86 over his final 13 starts. The eight wins in that time is tied for third best in the Majors over that stretch. He is 3-1, 2.62 in five career starts vs. Detroit.

Guthrie in 2010:
*Went 3-10, 4.77 in 18 starts in the first half
*Went 8-4, 2.76 in 14 starts in the second half