Nightmare first for Tillman, Fox
After a 35-minute rain delay before first pitch, the Orioles got a run in the first inning on Adam Jones' two-out RBI single. But the lead was short-lived because of a disastrous bottom of the first inning for the Orioles battery of Chris Tillman and Jake Fox.
Tillman allowed the first three hitters he faced to reach on singles. Chris Getz started it off with a leadoff single and stole second. He scored on Melky Cabrera's single. Cabrera, who advanced to second on Jones' throw home to try and get Getz, scored on Alex Gordon's RBI single.
Tillman retired Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur before allowing an RBI double to Wilson Betemit. The inning should have been over there because Mike Aviles lofted an infield pop-up. However, shortstop Robert Andino and third baseman Mark Reynolds both lost the ball in the sun, and it went for an RBI single.
Aviles stole second before Tillman retired Brayan Pena to end the inning.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Come on O's! Get your S together and get this W. I need it after the Caps' embarrassing quit job the past 2 nights!!!
Posted by: RJH9er | May 5, 2011 3:34 PM
When is the "Fox at catcher" experiment end? I realize we want to get the guy some at-bats but you don't need to be a stat-head to know this DEFINITELY IS NOT WORTH IT.
In the 4 games in which Fox played catcher, the Orioles have gone 1-3 and given up 38 runs (>9 runs a game?!?!). Whatever it is, the Orioles give up a lot of runs whenever he is behind the plate. Can we please bring up Tatum as a backup, Bob Uecker, anyone??
And he's batting .115
Posted by: Andrew | May 5, 2011 3:57 PM
thank you baseball gods for scheduling a tillman-pitched game during the day so i don't have to waste my evening. tillman will be a solid number 3 starter... in norfolk.
Posted by: john | May 5, 2011 4:04 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again...Chris Tillman is not a Major League pitcher. He might possibly be one of the best AAA pitchers that we've ever had at some point, but he will never consistently get major league hitters out.
PS- Atleast we have Jake Fox to strike out over and over again and never throw base runners out. That always helps.
Posted by: matt | May 5, 2011 4:09 PM
2 questions if you don't mind.
Tillman's velocity seems very erratic. He keeps throwing somethin at about 84 MPH. Is that his change up or a cut fastball?
2. What is the ERA when Fox is behind the plate? He is horrible back there. I hope they soon get Tatum up. He can't catch, can't throw, calls a lousy game and he gives a target in the middle of the plate.
Thanks
Posted by: Chad | May 5, 2011 4:11 PM
At some point, tillman was going to pitch himself back to norfolk. Get him his bus ticket, or better yet, drop him in Norfolk on the way back, and tell him you'll see him next year in Fla. Maybe.
Is it not the goal of the organization to play the players that for the most part gives the team a chance to win?
I don't see how Tillman in his current state is one of those guys. The only thing he has proven is that he cannot pitch effectively in the major leagues. Frankly, I don't care why. The Orioles have to do better than Chris Tillman. And start doing better tomorrow.
Jake Fox. Not the answer in Chicago. Not the answer in Oakland. Not the answer in Baltimore. Next stop?
Posted by: jim66 | May 5, 2011 4:46 PM
Granted Tillman hasn't pitched well and looked awful today, but matt, the guy is only 23 years old so how can you say he'll never consistently get major league hitters out? How many other really good major league pitchers were doing a great job at that age?
He probably should be in Norfolk and may well be when Matusz comes back.
I agree that Fox isn't the answer as backup catcher.
Posted by: GaryB | May 5, 2011 4:52 PM