Chris Tillman retired 11 in a row before the final batter reached on Robert Andino's throwing error. He finished strong, but wasn't exactly in the mood to celebrate.
"I wouldn't say I'm pleased," he said. "I felt OK about it. It was OK. It wasn't good enough. It's definitely a work in progress here. From the last start to this start, I've come a long way. I still have a lot of work to do, but it was OK."
Later, Tillman said he "got excited seeing the results." That's OK, too. He should feel somewhat encouraged by the way he kept the Orioles in the game and starting mowing down the Twins after running into serious trouble in the second inning.
"I can't wait to get back out there on my bullpen day," he said.
"I had better command of my fastball, both in and out. My cutter has still got to come along for me. It got me in trouble twice tonight. That's been the pitch I've been going to late last season and in spring training, and all of a sudden it's not there for me. That's one thing I've got to get back to, the cutter. Other than that, I had a decent changeup going tonight." As for the eight-game losing streak, Tillman said, "It's frustrating right now. Nothing is really going our way. We're all kind of frustrated. We've got to keep plugging way."
Chris Tillman recaps his performance against the Twins Monday night
"I had better command of my fastball, both in and out. My cutter has still got to come along for me. It got me in trouble twice tonight. That's been the pitch I've been going to late last season and in spring training, and all of a sudden it's not there for me. That's one thing I've got to get back to, the cutter. Other than that, I had a decent changeup going tonight." As for the eight-game losing streak, Tillman said, "It's frustrating right now. Nothing is really going our way. We're all kind of frustrated. We've got to keep plugging way."
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