Orioles outright David Hale (O's lead 4-2)

The Orioles scored a big insurance run today in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Chris Tillman has overcome command issues to work through the seventh.

Pedro Alvarez reached with two outs on a gift double, his pop up falling into shallow left field. He hustled to second base with the Angels slow to recover and continued to third on shortstop Andrelton Simmons' throwing error.

Simmons was basically lost on the play.

J.J. Hardy followed with a single up the middle to plate Alvarez, give the Orioles a 3-1 lead and end Tim Lincecum's afternoon.

Tillman has allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, with a season-high five walks and five strikeouts. His pitch count stands at 106.

The righty is trying to improve his record to 12-2 before heading home for the All-Star break. Brad Brach was warming in the bullpen, sat down and is up again in the bottom of the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Orioles announced today that they outrighted right-hander David Hale to Triple-A Norfolk.

Hale is 1-4 with a 5.11 ERA in 10 starts with the Tides.

By outrighting Hale, the Orioles have created an opening on their 40-man roster. They're expected to make some adjustments to the 25-man roster during the break.

Manager Buck Showalter wants another left-hander in the bullpen besides closer Zach Britton. Reliever Mychal Givens may need to go on paternity leave. We'll find out whether Hyun Soo Kim's hamstring strain forces him on the disabled list. And the rotation currently has four starters, with the possibility of going down to three with Ubaldo Jimenez's removal.

Update: The Angels shaved the lead to 3-2 in the eighth on Albert Pujols' sacrifice fly off Brad Brach after Kole Calhoun's leadoff single and Mark Trumbo's two-base error while attempting a sliding catch.

The run was unearned and Brach's ERA is down to 0.91 in 49 1/3 innings.

Tillman's ERA is down to 3.41 in 113 1/3 innings.

Update II: Hardy homered in the eighth inning, his first since wrapping two fly balls around the Pesky Pole at Fenway Park on April 12. Orioles 4, Angels 2