Showalter on Tillman and a 3-2 win
By Roch Kubatko
The Orioles' magic number is three following tonight's dramatic 3-2 walk-off win over the Yankees at Camden Yards.
The Blue Jays come to town, and the Orioles can clinch the division by taking two of the three games.
Kelly Johnson delivered a walk-off double in the ninth off Yankees closer David Robertson, who was pitching in his third consecutive game.
"It feels like a first-place team," Johnson said. "Bounced around just a little bit now, and you just kind of get a feel that it's meant to be."
It feels like 1979 to me. Let's see if there's a happier ending for Orioles fans.
Here's manager Buck Showalter:
On Chris Tillman
"There were a lot of guys. I think it starts and ends with the pitching. Obviously, Tilly (Chris Tillman) was good. I thought the key situation was after the home run to left field, they doubled (was a single and E-7) and then he really got some key outs there. It's something we've talked a lot of times about it with Chris. That's a real difference with him and a lot of our pitchers is they minimize the damage. Man on second and nobody out there. That's what I kind of look back on. A lot of good at-bats there in the ninth."
On Johnson
"He's just had a lot of experience in the American League East and there's a lot of things you don't have to wonder about. He's been a home player in all the ballparks. You kind of know what you're getting. Kelly's a pro. He can play three positions and he gives us versatility. There were a lot of options. Sometimes, it's tougher to manage when you've got too many options. We have a lot of good options on the bench. Good players execute in situations like that. Let's face it, too, we're trying to win our division and they're also trying to make some impressions about the postseason, and everybody's grinding."
On ceremony for Derek Jeter
"That was really impressive. I really applaud the people. I thought that was a real classy (gesture). Obviously, that's a big charity to our organization down in Sarasota and have it in Derek's name. The crabs were hot. They were. I thought Boog might take the hammer to a few of them down the runway there. They smelled great. I thought the captain's hat was a great idea. It was better than my idea. That's not to say I won't give it to him in New York."
On Tillman's streak of three earned runs or fewer in 19 straight starts
"Also, you think about how important these games are to New York and they're giving you their best shot. They're bringing people like Carlos Beltran and Ichiro Suzuki off the bench. They're a good group. Tilly's just been solid. He's one of those guys who bends. You've got a shot at him at some point. I was going to try to let him pitch the seventh clean and tried to give him one more hitter, but I just didn't like where he was. He kind of emptied the tank there with (Stephen) Drew, and then of course Andrew (Miller) came in and gave us some big outs. Not many times you play four games and are able to keep Derek to hurt you, though he made some good plays defensively."
On being able to clinch division with two wins over Toronto
"That's the first I've heard that. Let's see what Wei-Yin Chen and (Marcus) Stroman have in store for us tomorrow. Assume the position. See what the game has in store for us. That was fun to watch tonight. It would be a lot more enjoyable for me if I knew how it was going to turn out."
On Cruz legging out double to open ninth
"Well, you do those things out of the batters box, you know, because (Brett) Gardner is one of the best left fielders in the game. He probably got some votes today for the Gold Glove that we filled out today. You've got to take a chance. I tell the guys all the time, you feel something, go for it. Sometimes there are some questions in here and for them that are properly asked, but I'm telling them all the time, I don't want you going back to the hotel or the apartment or house saying, 'I wish I would have trusted my instincts or went for it.' And if we're fortunate enough to get into the playoffs, that's the mentality we've got to have. Don't be afraid to answer that stuff afterward, because you're really going to feel bad if you regret not trusting yourself and going for things."
On Chris Tillman
"There were a lot of guys. I think it starts and ends with the pitching. Obviously, Tilly (Chris Tillman) was good. I thought the key situation was after the home run to left field, they doubled (was a single and E-7) and then he really got some key outs there. It's something we've talked a lot of times about it with Chris. That's a real difference with him and a lot of our pitchers is they minimize the damage. Man on second and nobody out there. That's what I kind of look back on. A lot of good at-bats there in the ninth."
On Johnson
"He's just had a lot of experience in the American League East and there's a lot of things you don't have to wonder about. He's been a home player in all the ballparks. You kind of know what you're getting. Kelly's a pro. He can play three positions and he gives us versatility. There were a lot of options. Sometimes, it's tougher to manage when you've got too many options. We have a lot of good options on the bench. Good players execute in situations like that. Let's face it, too, we're trying to win our division and they're also trying to make some impressions about the postseason, and everybody's grinding."
On ceremony for Derek Jeter
"That was really impressive. I really applaud the people. I thought that was a real classy (gesture). Obviously, that's a big charity to our organization down in Sarasota and have it in Derek's name. The crabs were hot. They were. I thought Boog might take the hammer to a few of them down the runway there. They smelled great. I thought the captain's hat was a great idea. It was better than my idea. That's not to say I won't give it to him in New York."
On Tillman's streak of three earned runs or fewer in 19 straight starts
"Also, you think about how important these games are to New York and they're giving you their best shot. They're bringing people like Carlos Beltran and Ichiro Suzuki off the bench. They're a good group. Tilly's just been solid. He's one of those guys who bends. You've got a shot at him at some point. I was going to try to let him pitch the seventh clean and tried to give him one more hitter, but I just didn't like where he was. He kind of emptied the tank there with (Stephen) Drew, and then of course Andrew (Miller) came in and gave us some big outs. Not many times you play four games and are able to keep Derek to hurt you, though he made some good plays defensively."
On being able to clinch division with two wins over Toronto
"That's the first I've heard that. Let's see what Wei-Yin Chen and (Marcus) Stroman have in store for us tomorrow. Assume the position. See what the game has in store for us. That was fun to watch tonight. It would be a lot more enjoyable for me if I knew how it was going to turn out."
On Cruz legging out double to open ninth
"Well, you do those things out of the batters box, you know, because (Brett) Gardner is one of the best left fielders in the game. He probably got some votes today for the Gold Glove that we filled out today. You've got to take a chance. I tell the guys all the time, you feel something, go for it. Sometimes there are some questions in here and for them that are properly asked, but I'm telling them all the time, I don't want you going back to the hotel or the apartment or house saying, 'I wish I would have trusted my instincts or went for it.' And if we're fortunate enough to get into the playoffs, that's the mentality we've got to have. Don't be afraid to answer that stuff afterward, because you're really going to feel bad if you regret not trusting yourself and going for things."
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