Chris Tillman pitches 8 2/3 scoreless innings as O's blank Atlanta

Does each Chris Tillman outing get better than the previous one? Hard to do, as well as he's been pitching, but tonight he pitched 8 2/3 shutout innings as the Orioles blanked Atlanta 2-0 at Camden Yards.

Seeking a complete-game shutout, Tillman allowed a two-out double in the ninth to Cameron Maybin and Buck Showalter called for Zach Britton from the bullpen. Britton got Freddie Freeman to ground out to end it and record his 26th save.

With the win, the Orioles sweep the three-game series, improve to 51-49 after 100 games and move to within one game of Minnesota for the second American League wild card spot. The Orioles are now 30-18 at home and 8-7 against National League teams.

The Orioles extend their win streak to five games, their second-longest of the season. They've allowed just seven runs during the streak.

Tillman was rolling almost from the start and improved to 8-7 with an ERA of 4.35. He did not walk a batter, fanned just two, allowed four hits and threw 95 pitches. He never threw more than 13 pitches in any inning.

Tillman was one out short of his second career shutout. His first was May 16, 2014 at Kansas City. The Orioles were seeking their first complete-game shutout since Miguel Gonzalez over Cincinnati on Sept. 3, 2014.

Tillman has allowed just one run and seven hits in three starts and 23 2/3 innings in the second half and that was a run that scored while Darren O'Day was on the mound. It's Tillman's third scoreless start during his last six outings and he is 3-0 with an ERA of 1.09 in that stretch.

Tillman's pitches by inning tonight: 12, 8, 13, 9, 13, 12, 12, 11, 5.

The Orioles used the longball to take a 2-0 lead after four innings. Jonathan Schoop led off the third with his seventh homer. He hit a first-pitch fastball from right-hander Mike Foltynewicz into the Orioles bullpen. The O's are now 23-2 in his career when Schoop homers.

An inning later, J.J. Hardy hit his seventh that barely made the seats in left for a 2-0 lead. He hit a 75 mph curveball on a 2-2 pitch. That hit extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

The two homers allowed were enough to make Foltynewicz the losing pitcher to fall to 3-3 with an ERA of 5.04. He allowed six hits and two runs over six innings.

Now the Orioles welcome the Detroit Tigers to the Yard for a four-game series beginning Thursday night. Miguel Gonzalez (9-6, 3.99 ERA) pitches against former Oriole Alfredo Simon (9-6, 4.46 ERA).