TORONTO — After the Orioles' 13-9 win over the Blue Jays – a victory that gave the O's a series win here in Toronto – manager Buck Showalter said the hero of the weekend wasn't even on the big league roster anymore.
Showalter pointed to the 5 2/3 long relief innings rookie right-hander Tyler Wilson gave the club in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Right-hander Mike Wright lasted just 1 1/3 innings, and the Orioles didn't win that night, but Wilson not only kept the Orioles in the game, he also preserved a bullpen that would be needed later in the series.
When you think about it, it's pretty amazing to think the Orioles were able to win two games in a series in which their starting pitcher failed to get out of the second inning twice in three games.
The Orioles needed six relievers on Sunday, including four who pitched more than one inning. Darren O'Day, who threw 25 pitches to get out of pivotal bases-loaded jam in the eighth on Saturday, tossed another 17 pitches to strand two more runners on Sunday.
So Wilson, who could be easily forgotten in the context of Friday's game, played a big role in the Orioles' success against the Blue Jays.
** Looking back on Sunday's win, J.J. Hardy came up with two big hits – his game-tying single in the seventh and his tie-breaking single in the ninth – but Ryan Flaherty's two-run triple, which came right after Hardy's ninth-inning, was just as big.
Flaherty hit his third run-scoring triple this month.
"Not speed, just hitting it to the right part of the park," Flaherty said.
Flaherty has played an important role on this team. Ten of his 14 RBIs this season have come in June.
Keep in mind that Flaherty was among the players considered to be sent down to Triple-A earlier this month when J.J. Hardy came off the disabled list.
He's still hitting just .241 on the season, but he's played a big role with this team, filling at second for Jonathan Schoop. And once Schoop returns Flaherty's name could come up again when weighing roster possibilities.
** There are going to be a lot of questions going forward about right-hander Chris Tillman after his shortest start of the season Sunday. Tillman lasted just 1 1/3 innings, his shortest start in more than a year, when he went just one inning in Texas on June 5 of last year, allowing five runs on six hits.
Keep in mind that Tillman had two one-inning starts in the first three months of last season – he allowed eight runs on seven hits – in May 21 start in Pittsburgh. And he recovered well, going 20 straight starts of allowing three earned runs or less after that ugly outing in Arlington.
Tillman has built a track record of trust with Showalter, and he has faith that Tillman will pull himself out of his rut again with the help of pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.
"I don't think I've ever been in [a] more confident situation with a group of pitchers and pitching coaches," Showalter said. "They will figure it out. If it's figure out-able, they will do that."
Tillman, who had won his previous three starts before Sunday, thought he was beginning to turn the corner after starting the season 2-7 and posting just three quality starts in his first 10.
"It's hard to say after this one, but I think it's still there," Tillman said. "Just way too many pitches over the heart of the plate and this team is going to do damage every time. If I'm able to make more quality pitches, it's a different story."
With Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen returning to the rotation – scheduled to start Thursday and Friday, respectively – will allow Showalter to give Tillman an extra day of rest before his next start. Expect him to pitch Saturday against the Indians at Camden Yards.
eencina@baltsun.com
twitter.com/EddieInTheYard