Orioles 2 - 3 Rays
Final
  for this game

Gausman, Orioles try to even set with Rays

Sep 6, 2014 - 11:47 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Gausman looks to snap a three-start slide on Saturday afternoon and draw his Baltimore Orioles even in their three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Gausman's skid has dropped him to 7-7 on the year, while his earned run average has risen from 3.70 before the losing streak to 3.93.

The 23-year-old righty gave up five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and two walks versus Minnesota on Monday. He also struck out seven over his 7 1/3 innings of work after having lasted a total of just nine innings in his previous two outings.

That span includes a loss to Tampa Bay on Aug. 27, when Gausman allowed three runs -- two earned -- over four innings and fell to 1-3 lifetime versus the Rays with a 6.64 ERA in five games (4 starts).

The Rays turn to Drew Smyly today and the lefty is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Detroit. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since the trade and won back-to-back outings before getting a no-decision versus Boston on Monday.

The southpaw yielded a pair of runs on three hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven.

Smyly beat Gausman and the Orioles on Aug. 27, yielding a run on two hits over seven innings of work. He is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in five total meetings with the Orioles, including two starts.

The Rays picked up a 3-0 victory over the American League East-leading Orioles last night, getting all three runs in the eighth inning. Yunel Escobar drove in the game's first run with an infield single and Ryan Hanigan later smacked a two-run single as Tampa Bay snapped a three-game slide.

Alex Cobb went seven innings and scattered six hits and a walk while striking out six for the Rays.

"They were taking a lot of good pitches. That forced me to make more pitches in the zone with my fastball," Cobb said.

Adam Jones had two of the six hits for the Orioles, who had won seven of eight coming in. Wei-Yin Chen allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three in six innings of work.

"One run with the way they were pitching, the way they were with their bullpen was going to be tough," O's manager Buck Showalter said.

The Orioles have won 11 of their 17 meetings with the Rays this season.






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