After struggling in another start, potentially his last in an Orioles uniform, left-hander Rich Hill stood in front of his locker and offered a reason and an apology for his poor performances this season.
"I have been having some [tendinitis] issues with the shoulder and we have been doing a good job of keeping the fire down a little bit and unfortunately it is just something that I haven't been able to maintain any consistency with," Hill said.
"Other than that, unfortunately I haven't been able to give any kind of consistent help to this team. I apologize to the front office and the guys in this clubhouse."
In the Orioles' 5-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Monday night, the club's eighth defeat in 10 games since the All-Star break, Hill retired just seven batters while again struggling mightily with his control. He said he has also been dealing with consistent pain, something that could land him on the disabled list.
"There is some in there. It is something I've been dealing with all season and trying to keep it down ... but unfortunately it's something that has lingered around," he said.
Hill walked Royals leadoff hitter Willie Bloomquist on five pitches to start the game, and Bloomquist scored two batters later, putting the Orioles in a 1-0 hole and erasing the good feeling from Sunday's 6-2 win in Boston.
"It's your first game here off of a road trip. You won a big ballgame [Sunday]. You think you've got a little confidence going, a little momentum going," manager Dave Trembley said. "The tempo of the game's got to be established right from the get-go. You've gotta go out and your tempo's gotta be fast-paced. You gotta throw strikes and you gotta put a zero up in that first inning. You can't fall behind."
Trembley would not specifically address whether Hill, who is out of options, was out of the rotation, but either Hill or tonight's starter, Jason Berken, will be removed when top prospect Chris Tillman is recalled to make his major league debut Wednesday.
Hill knew that going in - making his performance - four hits, three walks and three runs in 2 1/3 innings - that much more disappointing. Hill threw 61 pitches and recorded 10 outs or fewer for the fifth time in his 13 starts.
"It's not something where I go out there and this is what I want," Hill said. "I'm not going out there and wanting to go short in the game and use the bullpen every time I take the ball."
