Chris Tillman knocked out early as Yankees win 8-3

It had to be at least a bit concerning to the Orioles when Chris Tillman gave up four early runs in his last start against Minnesota and lasted just five innings. But he had a rougher outing tonight.

Tillman gave up solo homers to two of the first three batters he faced and allowed five runs over 2 2/3 innings. The Yankees went on to an 8-3 win to even the series at a victory each.

Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday each hit two solo homers as New York scored two in the first, one in the second, two in the third and three runs off Logan Verrett in the fourth. Through the fourth inning, the Yankees were 11-for-23 with two doubles, four homers and eight runs.

Tillman allowed seven hits and gave up three homers for the first time since June 3, 2016 and that was also versus the Yankees. Tillman had not allowed a homer in his first four 2017 starts, covering 20 1/3 innings and 95 batters, as he took the mound tonight.

Tillman is 1-2 and his ERA jumped to 5.87 through five starts. He pitched scoreless ball over five innings in his season debut. In four games since, he has allowed 15 runs over 17 innings.

Gardner hit his 10th and 11th home runs for his fifth career multi-homer game and third this year. Holliday hit his 10th and 11th, as well, and produced his 22nd career multi-homer game and first of 2017.

Meanwhile Yankee starter Luis Severino took a shutout into the sixth and gave up one run and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings to go to 4-2 with an ERA of 2.93. His ERA is 1.88 over his past five starts.

Trey Mancini's bases-loaded infield single in the sixth scored the first Orioles run. Mancini went 3-for-3 to raise his average from .282 to .300. In the eighth inning, he drew a nine-pitch walk. The O's scored two in that inning on singles by Joey Rickard and J.J. Hardy.

Manny Machado tonight went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. That dropped his average from .216 to .210. His only other career four-strikeout game was July 31, 2014. Over his past three games, he is 0-for-13 with eighth strikeouts.

The Orioles fall to 26-24 and lost for the eighth time in nine games. They are 4-14 over the last 18 games and 4-4 against New York.

The Yankees improved to 30-19 for the season and 13-9 in American League East games. They need a win tomorrow to snap the Orioles' 10-series home win streak against them that dates to September 2013.

In the series finale on Wednesday night, right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-4, 6.17 ERA) pitches against right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (5-4, 5.86 ERA).