Wrapping up a 14-6 loss

Heading into today's game at Camden Yards, the Orioles' bullpen led the American League and ranked third in the majors with a 2.70 ERA since April 29. Opponents were batting .230 during the span, which ranked fifth in the majors.

Maybe they were due for a dud.

The relievers who followed starter Chris Tillman combined to allow 10 runs. Two of Tillman's inherited runners also crossed the plate in a 14-6 loss to the Royals.

Tillman was charged with four runs, the last two scoring as he sat on the bench. Brian Matusz was charged with two, T.J. McFarland five and Steve Johnson three. Matusz and Chaz Roe each let two inherited runners score.

Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia retired all five batters he faced with two strikeouts to lower his ERA to 4.33.

"We had to use some people last night to win that game," said manager Buck Showalter. "I thought Chris was better. I did. Second inning, he threw 32 pitches. That kind of took its toll on him. There was a little longer outing there. He was better. Not quite what he's capable of obviously, but I thought he was improved.

"We didn't pitch well out of the 'pen, obviously. A couple of games that I'm being nice when I say they weren't crisp. Both of them. But our grounds crew did a great job."

Asked specifically about McFarland, who served up a grand slam to Mike Moustakas, Showalter replied, "Some things that didn't follow what guys are capable of and what they've done for us. It's that time of year. Chaz, we just didn't stem the tide there. Very similar to what we did to them last night."

Moustakas had nine RBIs to set a Royals record. His grand slam came with two strikes.

"At 0-2, you don't want to throw a hanging slider down the middle," McFarland said. "That's not your goal in that situation. You're trying to throw something in the dirt and try to get him to chase something and I left it up.

"The first couple of batters, single up the middle, they're swinging it. They're an aggressive team. They're going to swing, and with my sinker, they were finding some holes early. With Moustakas, he obviously had a big day, too. He got a hold of the slider. Bad pitch to a good hitter. That's what happens."

Tillman retired 10 of 11 batters heading into the sixth inning.

"Just a little better command of the fastball," Showalter said. "In that last inning he wasn't quite as crisp with his fastball, didn't have the finish on it.

"We made a lot of mistakes with location. We were missing a foot or two. Trying to go in, a ball's away. Trying to go away, ball's in. Tough to really draw a positive after Chris left. Just a little better command of the fastball. In that last inning, he wasn't quite as crisp with his fastball, didn't have the finish on it."

Tillman lost his last four starts before getting a no-decision today.

"For the most part I thought it was pretty good, better," he said. "Command was better, offspeed was better. Made a lot of good pitches. Got away with some that they hit right at our guys, but for the most part it was good.

"Early on, I threw too many pitches and they fought and fought and fought and got it up there a little bit, but we were able to kind of get back on track. You always like to get deep in the game, but we got through what we needed to."

Asked how he got on a roll, Tillman replied, "I think making pitches. There were times I fell behind and was able to make pitches and get out of it. That's kind of been the story all year is you've got to make pitches and execute. With this team, it's a mix. You've got to go both hard and soft."

Are the Royals a hard team to pitch against?

"I don't think so," Tillman replied. "They're pitchable. They've got a great lineup. They're very baseball smart. They hit the ball to what you give them. You throw the ball away, they're going to try to hit it away. You throw it in and they're going to try to pull it. That's what good teams do."

The Orioles went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12.

"We had runners out there," Showalter said. "How many LOBs we have? We had opportunities. It was one of those games like last night, when you get some opportunities you need to figure out a way to get them in.

"I thought Adam (Jones) looked a lot better today. He's looked a lot better physically. We'll see what tomorrow brings."

Today brought three more hit batters, but Showalter didn't think any of them were intentional.

"Two breaking balls and trying to go away and scuttled it back inside," Showalter said. "No one likes to see that, but you've got to take it. Unlike some teams who you run into, you take it as it really is and as reality is and don't get involved in all the drama people want to put into something that's not there."

Moustakas provided enough drama with his power display.

"Moustakas got a couple of big hits for them," said J.J. Hardy. "What did he have, seven RBIs? Nine? That's a pretty good month or week. What did we score? Not enough."

Hardy didn't use a 3 hour, 2 minute rain delay as an excuse.

"Once we get between the lines, it's all the same," he said. "I mean, we're ready to play the game once we're on the field."

Moustakas was ready and more than the Orioles could handle.

"It feels pretty good. It feels really good, actually," he said. "I went out there just trying to do what I can to help us win. The guys got on base today, gave me opportunities to drive in some runs. And I was able to capitalize on that.

"I had a game (like this) in the minor leagues. I think I hit three homers and something like 11 RBIs. It was unbelievable. But nothing like that in the big leagues before. It's pretty special. I was just able to get good pitches and I didn't miss them today.

"Every win is big, especially against a good team like Baltimore."