O's get elusive quality start, trade talk and a gem on the farm

Entering his start last night with an 7.90 ERA and with just two quality starts in 11 outings for the season, right-hander Chris Tillman was desperately in need of a well-pitched game. So were the Orioles.

Both got one.

Tillman allowed just two hits and one run over six innings as the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 to open a four-game series. Tillman's outing was in stark contrast to the starting pitching over the weekend versus the Cubs. The O's starters in that series gave up 27 hits and 21 runs including seven homers in 11 1/3 innings. The rotation ERA for the season jumped up to 6.02 through Sunday.

So this was better, this was needed and this was welcome. Tillman said he didn't take the mound Monday night looking to be a stopper or trying to regain his previous status as the club's top starter.

"I didn't think about it," he said after his 95-pitch no-decision. "It's going to happen sometime. Someone is going to step up. I feel like tonight probably should have been better, but Welly (catcher Welington Castillo) did a good job. The guys have been working. It's not for lack of trying. We need to get on a roll."

This was the Orioles' first quality start since Kevin Gausman pitched seven scoreless July 2 against Tampa Bay. They went 10 games without one and had just five the previous 36 games before Tillman's outing. He didn't even get the win. That went to lefty reliever Richard Bleier, who pitched a scoreless seventh and lowered his ERA to 1.34.

The Orioles bullpen has pitched to a 2.02 ERA over the past nine games.

The O's posted a rare win when scoring so few runs. They are now 11-35 when scoring three runs or fewer.

The Orioles improved to 14-7 in two-run games. Brad Brach recorded his 16th save in 20 chances, and this was the Orioles' first save since June 29 at Toronto. The Orioles are 11-6 in home series openers. They are 26-19 at home and had lost seven of their past eight at Camden Yards before this win.

Trade talk: Orioles relievers Brach and Zach Britton were asked yesterday about trade talk and speculation in which their names have come up.

Both players indicated that, while they know the speculation is out there, they have no control over whether they are traded or not.

"I've been here since I was 18," Britton said. "I'm not in any rush to go anywhere, but it's not my decision. Being a reliever, a lot of things are different, the way guys move around. If it happens, I'll take it in stride, but like I said, I've been here since 18. I don't know any other place, other than this organization.

Click here to read more of Britton's comments.

Brach said there is a bit of a different feel in the Orioles clubhouse as the trade deadline approaches this year.

"We are not in the spot we want to be in," he said. "Definitely a little bit different feel than the last couple of years. But at the end of the day, nothing could be done or moves could be made. All you can really do is worry about your job. When they call my name, it's time to go get three outs. I know that is kind of a simple answer, but that is really all I can control at this time."

Brach said he hopes to still be an Oriole when the deadline passes.

"Obviously, yeah. I really enjoy being here and I think there is a lot of talent here. Everybody kind of has a contract through next year. We have had a down few weeks and months, but at any time we could turn it around. I'd love to stay here, but that's not really up to me. Whatever is going to happen after these few weeks is going to happen, but I don't have any control over it," he added.

Wells with a gem: At a time when the Orioles are getting criticism for a lack of international signings, one player they did sign as an international amateur had another strong game last night.

Single-A Delmarva beat Rome 1-0, and Australian-born left-hander Alexander Wells pitched six scoreless on four hits and increased his consecutive innings scoreless streak to 24.

In August of 2015, the Orioles signed Wells at age 18 out of Newcastle, Australia for $300,000. Through 18 starts with the Shorebirds, Wells is 8-4 with a 2.56 ERA. His fastball usually tops around 90 mph, but he has excellent control and has walked just 10 with 79 strikeouts over 102 innings.

Ranked before the season as the Orioles' No. 25 prospect by Baseball America, Wells ranks fifth in the South Atlantic League in ERA. Over his past three starts, he has pitched 19 scoreless innings on nine hits with no walks and 14 strikeouts. Wells has 13 quality starts for the season, including eight over his last nine outings.