masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgChris Tillman, trying to bounce back from that early exit at New York last week, is off to a mixed start so far tonight.

He and the Orioles trail the Twins 2-0 after three innings. Tillman has pitched two scoreless innings in the first and third, but gave up two runs in the second inning.

Of the four hits he has allowed, three came consecutively in that frame. With one out, Michael Cuddyer and Danny Valencia hit back-to-back singles. Then catcher Drew Butera, batting just .113 at gametime,…Chris Tillman, trying to bounce back from that early exit at New York last week, is off to a mixed start so far tonight.

He and the Orioles trail the Twins 2-0 after three innings. Tillman has pitched two scoreless innings in the first and third, but gave up two runs in the second inning.

Of the four hits he has allowed, three came consecutively in that frame. With one out, Michael Cuddyer and Danny Valencia hit back-to-back singles. Then catcher Drew Butera, batting just .113 at gametime, roped a two-run double into the right-field corner for a 2-0 Twins edge.

Butera doubled his season RBI output with one swing.

Tillman rebounded nicely in the third, getting the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hitters in order. He threw a real nice fastball that moved down and away from Jason Kubel, who swung and struck out on the pitch.

Because we all are obsessed with his velocity in these games, his fastball has been between 89 and 91 on most pitches tonight.

By the way, the O’s seven-game losing streak is their longest since the O’s lost 10 in a row last year from May 26 to June 5. In the O’s six wins this year they have scored 31 runs (5.2 per game) and they have plated just 20 runs over their eight losses (2.5 per game).

Updated: It ended up a decent outing for Tillman. He allowed three runs and six hits over 6 2/3, throwing 96 pitches. He lowered his ERA from 7.30 to 6.16.