BALTIMORE — Chris Tillman already has more wins in 2012 than his combined total over his first three years in the big leagues.
That might come as a shock, except nothing the Orioles do this season is all that surprising anymore.
Tillman pitched eight innings of one-hit ball, Ryan Flaherty hit his first career grand slam and the Orioles beat the Red Sox 9-1 Friday to tighten their grip on the AL's top wild-card spot.
Chris Davis also homered for the Orioles, who kept the heat on the first-place Yankees in the AL East. Baltimore stayed one game behind the Yankees, who beat Toronto 11-4.
Tillman gave up a bunt single to leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik, then allowed only two walks the rest of the way in his longest outing since July 4. The right-hander retired the final 14 batters he faced, and the only run he allowed was unearned.
"He's one win away from winning 10 games, but we hopefully have bigger fish to fry," manager Buck Showalter said.
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