Tillman's troubles overshadow triple play (O's lose 7-5)

The Orioles have turned two triple plays this season, but they can't turn around Chris Tillman. No matter how hard everyone tries. A group effort brings glimmers of hope and more despair.

Tillman failed to record an out in the third inning and was charged with five earned runs and seven total to put the Orioles behind 7-0 and raise his ERA to 8.10. And the rotation's recent roll has been halted.

Rain continues to torment the Orioles and anyone who dares to step inside Camden Yards. It comes in waves and creates them along the warning track.

As if Tillman needed something else to challenge him tonight.

The Tigers sent nine batters to the plate in the third while expanding a 2-0 lead, and the last run scored on Mikie Mahtook's sacrifice fly off Miguel Castro. Tillman allowed six hits, walked two batters, surrendered two home runs and threw a wild pitch. He also heard some boos as he headed to the dugout.

If the Orioles decide to go back to a five-man rotation, Tillman would be the most vulnerable among the starters. Manager Buck Showalter will be asked about Tillman's health again following the game, which the Tigers lead 7-2 after Manny Machado's sacrifice fly and Jonathan Schoop's RBI double in the third.

Tonight marked Tillman's second-shortest outing of the season. He retired only four batters on June 10 at Yankee Stadium and allowed nine runs. In his most recent outing before tonight, he surrendered eight runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings in Texas.

Tillman served up two home runs tonight in the first inning and waited out a 59-minute delay before recording the third out, Showalter choosing to stick with him instead of dipping early into his bullpen.

Ian Kinsler hit his 45th career leadoff home run, lining a 92 mph fastball into the left field seats and passing Brady Anderson for sixth place on the all-time list. Justin Upton homered to center field with one out, to exacerbate Tillman's first-inning difficulties.

Miguel Cabrera struck out and the sky opened up again, another storm arriving after the start of the game had been delayed 43 minutes. Tillman had thrown 18 pitches. He needed five more to retire Nick Castellanos on a ground ball.

The Orioles finally got to bat at 9 p.m.

So what is it about the first inning?

Tillman has allowed 19 runs, including seven homers. Opponents are batting .379.

Before tonight, Tillman's 5.47 ERA in the first was the highest of any inning in his career.

Tillman loaded the bases in the third on a one-out single by José Iglesias and two walks. Upton grounded to shortstop Tim Beckham, who let the ball squirt through his legs as two runs scored. Cabrera followed with a two-run double and Showalter made the switch.

The triple play may go down as the highlight unless the Orioles rally.

Victor Martinez led off with a double and Mahtook reached on an infield hit, the ball glancing off Machado's bare hand. However, James McCann's sharp grounder near the line found Machado's glove and the fun started.

Machado stepped on the bag and fired to Schoop, whose relay easily beat McCann. Fans were anticipating it the moment that Machado fielded the ball.

Score it 5-4-3, which enabled the Orioles to keep the deficit at 2-0.

The Orioles also turned a triple play on May 2 in Boston, the three outs coming in the bottom of the eighth inning in unconventional fashion.

Zach Britton induced a fly ball into shallow left field with two on and no outs. Mitch Moreland held at second base and Dustin Pedroia held at first, anticipating that shortstop J.J. Hardy would make the catch, which he failed to do.

Hardy threw to Schoop, who tagged Moreland. Schoop stepped on the bag for the force and threw to Chris Davis for the third out. The batter, Jackie Bradley Jr., had given up on the play and veered toward the dugout.

The play was scored 6-4-3, with Schoop responsible for two of the outs.

The Orioles hadn't turned a triple play since Sept. 1, 2000 in Cleveland. Now, they've got two in 2017.

The White Sox last summer became the first team to execute three triple plays in the same season since the Athletics and Red Sox in 1979, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It happened on April 22, May 18 and July 8.

The Brewers turned two triple plays last year.

There have been five multiple triple plays since 1996.

The Orioles turned two 5-4-3 triple plays in 1973, both started by Brooks Robinson on July 7 versus the A's and Sept. 20 in Detroit (h/t to Jayson Stark).

Notes: Infielder Johnny Giavotella cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

Braves right fielder Nick Markakis collected his 2,000th hit tonight, the first 1,547 coming with the Orioles.

Update: The Orioles trimmed the lead to 7-3 in the fourth inning on Welington Castillo's sacrifice fly after Davis walked and Beckham doubled.

Update II: Craig Gentry scored his second run of the night, coming home on Machado's fielder's choice bouncer in the seventh to reduce the lead to 7-4. Gentry stole third base for the second time tonight.

Update III: Beckham hit his first Orioles home run, an opposite-field shot in the eighth that reduced the lead to 7-5. He's 7-for-12 since the trade.

Update IV: The Orioles lost to the Tigers 7-5 to end their winning streak at five games. They're two games below .500 and 3 1/2 back for the second wild card.