Baltimore tops Tampa Bay, 2-1

Chris Tillman made an early J.J. Hardy homer stand up in a 2-1 Baltimore win over Tampa Bay Saturday.

Tillman (13-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) gave up a run on four hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking three on an economical 92 pitches.

The dominant O’s back end of Brad Brach (17 holds, 0.88 ERA, 0.80 WHIP) and Zach Britton (29 saves, 0.68 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) closed things out with two perfect innings of relief.

Hardy (.262/.293/.415, 4 HR, 20 RBI) hit a two-run homer in the second for Baltimore (53-36), which maintains a two-game lead in the AL East over Boston with the win.