Afternoon baseball: KC at Orioles

Game Preview Kansas City (40-60) at Orioles (43-57) For the Orioles, it's 100 games down and 62 to go in this 2009 season. The O's are 43-57 at the 100-game mark after Wednesday's 7-3 win over KC. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis knocked in three runs each. Jones hit a first-inning homer for the third straight game in this series. The four-game set comes to an end this afternoon with a matinee contest set for 12:35 p.m. Brad Bergesen (6-5, 3.56) faces KC's Luke Hochevar (6-3, 4.84) The Royals won the first two games of this series and lead the season series, 4-3 over the Orioles. After 100 games, the Orioles are 27-23 in home games and 16-34 in road contests. They are 1-2 on this seven-game homestand. The O's 21-year-old right-hander, Chris Tillman made his Major League debut last night. He did not get a decision after allowing seven hits and three runs in 4 2/3. He gave up three solo home runs. Matt Albers got the win Wednesday and Jim Johnson his second save of the year as they combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings. The Royals pen had pitched nine scoreless innings in the series' first two games, but gave up five runs over two innings last night. Jones is 4 for 13 in this series with three homers and 7 RBI. He has homered five times in 12 games since the All-Star break. Nolan Reimold went hitless Wednesday but is 11 for 20 over his last six games. Matt Wieters is 10 for 21 with 3 RBI during a six-game hitting streak. O's pitching has slowly been getting better. Over the last 18 games, the team ERA is 3.95. Kansas City has won three of five games. But, over a longer stretch, they have lost 12 of the last 15. O's hitters, this series: Andino: 0-0 Huff: 3-13, RBI Izturis: 5-12, run Jones: 4-13, 3 homers, 7 RBI Markakis: 3-13, 2B, 3 RBI Mora: 1-11 Pie: 0-0 Reimold: 4-10, run Roberts: 4-14, 2B, four runs Scott: 0-9 Wieters: 5-9, 2 RBI Wigginton: 1-4 Zaun: 0-3