O's game blog: O's close out strong June in Seattle

SEATTLE - The Orioles have played 14 series at home this year and have lost just one. They have won 10, lost one and tied three series at Oriole Park.

The Seattle Mariners are the team that won that series in Baltimore. Tonight, the Mariners will host the Orioles at Safeco Field looking to end the Orioles' latest seven-winning streak.

The Orioles have outscored their opposition 61-29 during their third seven-game winning streak of the 2016 season. The Birds have won nine of 11 and 19 of the last 27 games. Since May 3, the Orioles are 33-20. They have opened a 5 1/2-game lead atop the American League East over both Boston and Toronto.

Seattle lost 8-1 to Pittsburgh last night to fall to 39-39. They have won three of five since losing six in a row. But while the Orioles are 19-8 in June, the Mariners are 9-18. Since May 27, Seattle is 11-21.

In the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Seattle took pitcher Chris Tillman in the second round. On Feb. 8, 2008 they traded Tillman to the Orioles, along with Adam Jones, Kam Mickolio, George Sherrill and Tony Butler for left-hander Erik Bedard.

Since the deal, Tillman (10-1, 3.52 ERA) has not lost to his former team, going 7-0 with a 2.96 ERA against Seattle. But over his past two starts this year, Tillman has been a bit off form, allowing 10 runs over 10 innings. In that May series in Baltimore, Tillman beat Seattle, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing four hits and two runs.

Last season, the Orioles were 15-16 in Tillman's 31 starts. This year, they are 14-2 and have won his last six outings. Tillman has allowed two or fewer earned runs 10 times. On the road, he is 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA.

Taijuan Walker (3-6, 3.45 ERA) has dealt with tendinitis in the arch of his right foot in recent starts, but has been cleared to pitch tonight. His last start was June 19. Over his past three starts, he is 1-0 with a 1.65 ERA with two walks and 18 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings.

On the year, over 75 2/3 innings, Walker has issued 17 free passes and has 70 strikeouts. He has allowed 14 homers. In eight home starts, he is 2-3 with a 2.92 ERA. In four games careers versus Baltimore, he is 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA and he gave up four runs over five innings on May 18 against the Orioles in Baltimore.

The Orioles are 1-2 this year against Seattle. Since 2012, the Orioles are 19-12 versus the Mariners, including a mark of 10-6 at Safeco Field.

The Orioles have hit 55 home runs in June to tie the 1996 Oakland A's for the major league record for this month. They need one tonight to set a new mark. They are three homers behind the major league record of 58 for any single month set by first by the Orioles in May 1987 and matched by Seattle in May 1999.