Tillman talks about his outing, says little about Gonzalez's release (Tigers edge Orioles)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Tigers 2, Orioles 1

Recap: Catcher James McCann hit a solo home run off Chris Tillman leading off the second inning. That was the only run off Tillman in four innings. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out three. The Tigers scored an unearned run off T.J. McFarland in the fourth on a two-out single, passed ball, infield hit and Manny Machado's throwing error. McFarland worked three innings in his best outing of the spring. Vance Worley retired the Tigers in order in the eighth. Mychal Givens pitched a scoreless ninth. A ninth-inning single by Paul Janish scored Joey Rickard, who walked with two down and moved to second on defensive indifference.

Need to know: The Orioles are 10-15-5. Tillman threw 71 pitches, 40 strikes. Plate umpire Joey Amaral, who usual works the minors, ejected Machado in the sixth after a called third strike. Matt Wieters reached on bunt singles against the infield shift in the first and sixth innings. Caleb Joseph threw out Andrew Romine attempting to steal second base. Nolan Reimold walked in the second and was thrown out trying to steal as J.J. Hardy struck out. Machado made a tremendous diving stop along the line and threw from his knees to rob Romine before his error later in the inning. Tonight's attendance: 8,163, the 11th sellout of the spring.

On deck: Thursday, vs. Braves in Sarasota, 3:05 p.m. ___________________________________

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles got 71 pitches out of starter Chris Tillman tonight.

They also got four innings out of him, which wasn't sufficient in his mind.

Tillman held the Tigers to one run on James McCann's leadoff homer in the top of the second inning. I had him at six three-ball counts among the 16 batters he faced and he issued three walks. A caught stealing and double play aided his cause.

Tillman allowed three hits and struck out three batters, including Mike Aviles to end the fourth after McCann grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Aviles ran the count full before Tillman blew a fastball by him.

Only 40 of Tillman's 71 pitches were strikes, but he kept battling before manager Buck Showalter brought in left-hander T.J. McFarland.

So that's it for Tillman before opening day. He registered a 7.24 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. Tonight's outing was his finest statistically, but he referred to it as being only "OK."

"Early on, command was a little off," he said. "As the game went on, it got a little better, so I was happy with way I finished up."

A heavy reliance on his fastball stemmed from those command issues.

"It probably wouldn't have been that way if I hadn't been off early," he said. "If I would have been able to establish it early, I probably would have went in a little different direction. But early on I was a little off and wanted to be able to make the adjustment here instead of having to do it there."

Manager Buck Showalter has noted that this is Tillman's best spring physically. Tillman said it's been his finest "pitch-wise" in quite a while.

"Throughout, I've been able to locate and command the fastball," he said. "However I wasn't able to other than early on today.

"I'm excited with where it's at and look forward to seeing some results here once the season starts."

The Orioles are looking forward to breaking camp. It's been another long spring training.

"Very excited," he said. "I think we've had enough of this down here. I think everyone is ready to go and looking forward to get this thing going when the bell rings."

The clubhouse won't include Miguel Gonzalez, who was placed on release waivers today. Tillman's somber mood had more to do with his friend than fastball command.

"I'm not going to talk about it today," Tillman said before heading back inside. "Sorry."

He isn't the only one. It's already clear that players are upset with the decision to release Gonzalez, one of the more popular players on the team.

The Orioles are losing to the Tigers 2-0 in the seventh inning. They scored an unearned run off McFarland in the fifth on Manny Machado's throwing error on Jose Iglesias' infield hit. McFarland has gone three innings.

Minor league umpire Joey Amaral, working the plate tonight, ejected Machado for disputing a called third strike in the bottom of the sixth. It appeared to be a quick hook.

Ryan Flaherty replaced Machado at third base.

Tigers starter Shane Greene struck out nine Orioles in 5 2/3 innings.