Nick Markakis on Shane Greene, Chris Tillman on his outing and first half

The Orioles were shut out today for the seventh time this season in a 3-0 loss to the New York Yankees. Shane Greene pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits in his second major league start.

Was it a challenge for O's hitters facing him for the first time?

"You know, you could say there is, but he still did a good job pitching," O's right fielder Nick Markakis said. "He didn't leave much over the plate, worked both sides of the plate and we could not get much going off of him.

"He had pretty good life on his ball and nothing was straight. Sinking the ball, cutting the ball and tight slider. Was hard to pick up, as you could see."

Someone asked Markakis if Greene looked like a pitcher making his second big league start.

"Didn't look like it," Markakis said. "He threw a good game and kept us off balance and made some big pitches when he needed to. One of those games you have to put behind you and move on."

Did Greene show anything the O's didn't expect today, and did he look like the pitcher they had seen on video in scouting reports?

"Video does only so much," Markakis said. "It's completely different when you are in the box. Kept the ball down in the zone and when you keep the ball down with a sinker and that velocity, it is hard to string multiple hits off him. You know, one of those games where you tip your hat and move on.

"Every game is important from here on out. We got the most important game out of the way, game one, and we can still win this series. Go home, rest up and play a late one tomorrow."

The Orioles have now been shut out six times at Camden Yards and this was their first loss at home to New York by a shutout since April 29, 2010.

Chris Tillman went to the seventh today down 1-0, but New York scored twice in that inning to knock him out of the game. He gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings and is 7-5 with a 4.11 ERA.

"I felt good," Tillman said. "Pretty much all my pitches were there for me all day. Couple mistakes. It's getting better. Little rough start, but it's not how you start, it's how you finish. We are only getting better as a pitching staff and it's been fun to show up every day and watch these guys go to work."

Tillman was asked about Greene and his outing against the Orioles.

"He was good. He made a lot of good pitches," Tillman said. "I sat inside a little bit and watched him. Had a good slider and two seamer. He did his job and got to give him some credit."

Tillman is now 5-5 with an ERA of 5.64 in 12 career starts against New York.

He sized up his first half, one that saw his ERA balloon to 5.20 on June 5. But in seven starts since then, Tillman has pitched to an ERA of 2.28 with six quality starts.

"The way I look at is, I could have and should have been better early. But I can only control what is happening now. I've been more consistent with my delivery mechanically and that is starting to show. Looking forward to the second half," Tillman said.