Notes on Machado, Tillman and Nolin (and more Machado)

The Orioles just tweeted an interesting fact regarding third baseman Manny Machado, who continues to swing a hot bat away from Camden Yards. Not that it's been ice cold at home, but check this out: Machado has three hits in each of his last four road games. According to Elias, the only other player younger than 21 with a streak of four or more consecutive road games with at least three hits was Ty Cobb, who had five straight road games with at least three hits from Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 1907. Cobb was also 20 at the time, but a few weeks younger than Machado. Machado leads the majors with 21 doubles, including three last night. He also had three against the Padres on May 15. Chris Tillman will try to register his seventh consecutive quality start tonight, as the Orioles continue their four-game series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The streak began on April 22, when he held Toronto to one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings. Tillman hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since April 17 vs. Tampa Bay. Tillman is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays. He's 0-2 with a 5.01 ERA in four starts at Rogers Centre. Jose Bautista is 4-for-12 with a double and two home runs against Tillman. The Jays are sending left-hander Sean Nolin to the mound for his first major league start. He's the organization's No. 8 prospect, according to MLB.com. Nolin was promoted from Double-A New Hampshire, where he went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three starts. He sustained a groin injury in spring training. The Orioles promoted Kevin Gausman from Double-A Bowie to make last night's start. Now it's Nolin's turn to make the jump from the Eastern League. Must be a trend. More on Machado, courtesy of Orioles PR: Machado's four consecutive road games with at least three hits ties Cal Ripken Jr. (June 21-24, 1990), Eddie Murray (May 14-17, 1981) and Don Buford (June 24-27, 1970) for the most in club history. Machado, Ripken and Murray had 12 hits over their four-game streaks, while Buford had 14 hits. Machado recorded the 43rd game with three or more doubles in Orioles history Thursday and his second this year. Only 32 players have doubled three or more times in a game for the Orioles. Machado is just the third Oriole to do it twice in the same season, joining Al Bumbry (1975) and Albert Belle (1999). The only Orioles with three career games with three or more doubles in a game are Bumbry, Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada. Machado has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 road games, batting .435 (30-for-69) with three homers, 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored. He has three hits in each of his last four road games and has hit in six straight road games, going 15-for-29 (.517) with five doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and seven runs scored. Machado has the second-most hits on the road in the American League, one behind the Royals' Alex Gordon (41). Adam Jones is fourth with 34.