O's beat Cleveland, post two shutouts in twinbill for first time since 1974

The Orioles used a big inning to get a big win, one that moved them into first place by percentage points in the American League East. A strong pitching performance from Chris Tillman didn't hurt either.

The Orioles beat Cleveland 8-0 in front of 40,006 to sweep the day-night doubleheader and improve to 41-34 for a winning percentage of .547. It puts them ahead of Tampa Bay at .545 (42-35).

The Orioles posted two shutouts in a doubleheader for the first time since Sept. 6, 1974 at Cleveland. Those two shoutouts were the fourth and fifth games in a stretch of five consecutive shutouts by that Orioles team. That stretch began with a pair of 1-0 wins in a doubleheader at Memorial Stadium against Boston on Sept. 2, 1974.

The 2015 Orioles won for the seventh time in eight games. They've also won 16 of 20 and 18 of their last 23 games. They are 10-1 in their last 11 home games.

Tillman got the win, pitching seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball to improve to 6-7 with an ERA of 5.67. He walked none and fanned six, throwing 110 pitches. Coming into this start, Tillman had an ERA of 6.22, and he allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings at Toronto in his last outing.

Combined with Ubaldo Jimenez in the opener, the O's starters pitched 15 scoreless today, allowing eight hits with no walks and 13 strikeouts. Before this doubleheader, O's starters had just one outing of seven innings or more in the last 25 games, but they got two today.

Leading 2-0 against right-hander Toru Murata, who was making his major league debut, the Orioles scored six in the fourth to blow this game open.

Chris Davis led off with a solo homer (No. 15) and one out, and then Travis Snider homered as well (No. 3) for a 4-0 lead. After a walk, Murata was taken out, but the O's went on to score four more against Marc Rzepczynski and former Oriole Ryan Webb. Manny Machado produced a two-run double and Chris Parmelee homered to left center (No. 4) for the O's third homer of the inning.

The O's had taken the 2-0 lead in the second, thanks in large part to a two-out error on second baseman Jason Kipnis. A J.J. Hardy double and two-run single by Ryan Flaherty followed. Flaherty is now 10-for-26 (.385) with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles' offense has produced 44 runs the last seven games and 79 runs their last 12 games.

Today's doubleheader drew a combined 85,681 fans and the three-game series drew 116,793 to Camden Yards.

The Orioles' homestand continues Monday night when they host Texas to open a four-game series. Right-hander Bud Norris (2-6, 6.70 ERA) faces left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (4-3, 4.06 ERA).