PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Chris Tillman pitched two scoreless innings in an impressive spring debut Friday, helping the Baltimore Orioles open their Grapefruit League schedule with a 4-2 victory over Erik Bedard and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bedard spent the first five years of his career with the Orioles and is competing to win the fifth starter's spot in his first season with the Rays. The left-hander yielded three first-inning runs, although that doesn't necessarily mean he took a step back in his bid to get back on track following a pair of disappointing years with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros.
Tillman, a first-time All-Star in 2013, allowed one hit, struck out three and walked none. Steve Clevenger had a RBI single and Alex Gonzalez finished Baltimore's big inning against Bedard with a two-run single.
Jerry Sands and Justin Christian drove in runs for the Rays.
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