Kim, Tillman power Orioles over Indians

Kennedy Catholic grad Nolan Reimold adds solo HR in the ninth for Baltimore

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Hyun Soo Kim’s first major league homer was one timely swing for the Baltimore Orioles.

Kim hit a tiebreaking solo shot with two out in the seventh inning, and the Orioles hung on for a 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

Kim, signed as a free agent after playing 10 seasons in South Korea, drove a 2-2 pitch from Jeff Manship into the seats in right. Nolan Reimold added a leadoff homer in the ninth.

Chris Tillman (7-1) allowed three homers and four runs in six innings, but improved to 6-0 in his last seven starts. Darren O’Day worked out of bases-loaded, one-out trouble in the eighth, and Zach Britton got out of a jam in the ninth for his 14th save.

“We were walking through land mines there,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “We knew they were going to make a run because they’re too good of an offensive team.”

O’Day struck out pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall and Yan Gomes to end the eighth.

“That’s what being a reliever is all about, getting out of situations like that,” O’Day said. “Really happy that I pitched my best so that I could help us out.”

Mark Trumbo hit a three-run double in the first for Baltimore, which had lost five of six.

Carlos Santana, Mike Napoli and Jason Kipnis homered for Cleveland, which dropped into second in the AL Central, a half-game back of Kansas City.

Marlon Byrd and Rajai Davis started the Cleveland ninth with singles. Third baseman Ryan Flaherty fielded Carlos Santana’s ground ball and threw to second for a force play. Santana was ruled out at first on Jonathan Schoop’s throw, but the call was overturned after a replay review.

Britton struck out Kipnis and Francisco Lindor to end the game.

Manship (0-1) retired the first two hitters in the seventh before Kim’s home run. Kim was given the silent treatment when he reached the dugout before his teammates congratulated him.

“I think his teammates are happier than he is,” Showalter said. “He’s hit a home run before.”

Kim hit 142 home runs for the Dossan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization.

“I can’t lie that I wasn’t looking for a home run, but I was mainly focused on making a good hit, good contact and hitting the ball as hard as possible,” he said through a translator.

Kipnis started the eighth with a single off Brad Brach and took third on Lindor’s double off the wall in right field.

O’Day retired Napoli on a groundout and walked Jose Ramirez intentionally before escaping the threat.

“We had real good opportunities, but couldn’t come through there in the eighth or ninth,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Trumbo’s double gave Baltimore a first-inning lead against rookie right-hander Mike Clevinger. Flaherty’s sacrifice fly in the fourth pushed the lead to 4-0.

Tillman hadn’t allowed a hit going into the fourth, but that quickly changed on Santana’s leadoff homer to right. Napoli added a two-run shot, cutting the lead to 4-3. Kipnis’ leadoff homer in the sixth tied the game.