Tillman removed again in the second inning (O's win 11-6)

As Chris Tillman walked off the mound tonight with one out in the second inning and six runs already against him, he had to wonder if he'd get another chance in the rotation. Whether he'd get another chance to wear the uniform.

The leash figured to be long for a former All-Star who signed a contract in spring training that guaranteed him $3 million. However, Tillman has totaled 2 1/3 innings in his last two starts since blanking the Tigers on one hit through the seventh. He kept missing his target badly tonight, served up a grand slam to Salvador Perez before recording an out and was gone after Jorge Soler's two-run single in the second.

Tillman was charged with five earned runs and six total - Jonathan Schoop dropped his second throw in two nights after a leadoff walk to Cheslor Cuthbert in the second inning - and only 23 of 45 pitches were strikes. Four hits, three walks, no strikeouts, one wild pitch and another early exit.

In his last two starts, Tillman has surrendered 13 runs (12 earned) and 11 hits with four walks and no strikeouts and he hasn't gotten through the second. His ERA has ballooned to 10.46 in 26 2/3 innings.

Miguel Castro began to get loose in the first and replaced Tillman with Mike Moustakas coming up. Manager Buck Showalter did some maneuvering to keep him available tonight in long relief.

Castro was under consideration to start Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays.

The Orioles don't view Tillman as a comfortable fit in the bullpen and the only way to create a spot would be to put Castro or Mike Wright Jr. in the rotation. The other options, of course, are running him back out there or designating him for assignment.

Tillman would have to grant permission for the Orioles to send him to the minors.

Jon Jay led off the game with a single into center field. Soler walked on five pitches and Moustakas on four, and Perez cleared the out-of-town scoreboard in right field on an 0-2 fastball clocked at 90 mph.

Whit Merrifield singled with one out before Alex Gordon grounded into a double play on Tillman's 30th pitch.

Tillman returned for the second inning with the Orioles trailing 4-3 and promptly walked Cuthbert. Alcides Escobar reached on Schoop's error, both runners advanced on Jay's sacrifice bunt and Soler rolled a two-run single into center field. Tillman was spared a second wild pitch when the ball ricocheted off the brick wall and rolled back to him.

Showalter bolted out of the dugout after Soler's single and took the ball from Tillman. He'll be asked later tonight whether Tillman gets it again, but he won't address the topic without first sitting down with the veteran right-hander.

Tillman isn't going to find out through the media. It's foolish to expect any other outcome.

The Orioles trail 6-5 after Adam Jones followed Trey Mancini's single in the third inning with his sixth home run of the season. Mancini led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on Jones' double. Manny Machado followed with his 10th home run - the third consecutive ball hit to right-center field off Royals starter Ian Kennedy.

Jace Peterson has started three 5-4-3 double plays in four innings. Schoop's drop prevented another one.

Update: The Orioles scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-6 lead. Chance Sisco had a two-run double and Mancini hit an opposite-field two-run homer. Mancini is a triple shy of the cycle.

Update II: Anthony Santander's pinch-hit single in the fifth off left-hander Brian Flynn scored Mark Trumbo, who doubled, and increased the lead to 10-6.

Update III: Jonathan Schoop's RBI single in the sixth increased the lead to 11-6. Castro shut out the Royals on four hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Update IV: The Orioles defeated the Royals 11-6 for their first back-to-back wins since April 5-6 at Yankee Stadium. Tanner Scott struck out four batters in two scoreless innings and Mychal Givens tossed a scoreless ninth.