Orioles minors recap 7/11: Tillman torched again in Frederick rehab

Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals) 8, Frederick Keys 3

The Chris Tillman rehab tour made its way to Frederick, and it continued to be a disaster. Tillman coughed up a home run to the first batter he faced, a sharp single to the second batter, and then made a wild pickoff throw, all before recording his first out. Then he surrendered four more runs in the second in an inning that featured two walks, a hit batsman, a wild pitch, and another Tillman throwing error.

Tillman at least managed three scoreless innings before giving up a sixth run in the sixth thanks to a single and another wild pitch. His final line: 6.1 innings, six runs (four earned), five hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. Tillman now has a 7.59 ERA in his five rehab games after posting an 8.42 ERA in the majors the last two seasons. With all due respect to a once-solid O’s pitcher, what are the Orioles still seeing in Tillman to give him this long a rope?

Asked if he’s ready to come back to the majors, Tillman told Steve Melewski, “I’ve felt ready to pitch. I mean, I don’t know. You know, I can’t make up their mind. Based off that second inning it would probably be a no. But off the rest of the game it would probably be a solid yes.” Even Tillman doesn’t sound too confident at this point.

GCL Red Sox 4, GCL Orioles 1

We don’t normally cover the Gulf Coast League Orioles here, but since hardly any other affiliates were playing, let’s check in for chuckles. A bunch of players from the Orioles’ 2018 draft were on the field. Second baseman John Ham (31st round pick) went 1-for-4 with a run scored as the leadoff man. Loved him in Mad Men, by the way. Center fielder Trey Truitt (34th round) doubled, while catcher Matt Beaird (36th round) and left fielder Trey Whitley (28th round) were a combined 0-for-6.

Starter Dallas Litscher, the Orioles’ 10th-round pick, worked four scoreless innings, fanning four. Lefty Jason Montville (27th round) got a pair of outs, one on a strikeout.

Complete box scores can be found here.

Wednesday’s scheduled games:

• Norfolk: OFF for Triple-A All-Star Game
• Bowie: OFF for Double-A All-Star Game
• Frederick vs. Wilmington, 7:00 PM. Starter: Zac Lowther (3-1, 1.73)
• Delmarva at Charleston, 7:05 PM. Starter: DL Hall (0-5, 2.82)
• Aberdeen vs. Brooklyn, 7:05 PM. Starter: TBD