Orioles 2 - 0 Rays
Final
  for this game

O's give Gausman another shot vs. Rays

Jun 18, 2014 - 2:15 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Right-hander Kevin Gausman gets another audition for a full-time spot in the Baltimore starting rotation on Wednesday afternoon, when the Orioles visit the Tampa Bay Rays to close out a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

The youngster arrived from Triple-A Norfolk several weeks ago to replace Miguel Gonzalez when he was shelved with a strained oblique muscle and has made two starts, while allowing nine hits and two runs in 13 innings.

Both outings produced victories, most recently against Toronto on Thursday. Gonzalez has since returned, but manager Buck Showalter is expected to maintain a six-man rotation until the Orioles meet the Rays in a doubleheader on June 27.

"I felt good about what I've done," Gausman said. "I feel comfortable right now and, like you said, that's not my decision. Whatever happens is going to be for the club's best interest."

Gausman faced the Rays once last year as a starter and was battered for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-0 loss in June. He met them again in relief in September and allowed a run in an inning.

Gonzalez earned the victory on Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Rays.

Alex Cobb goes for the Rays after an 11-strikeout performance in a 6-1 defeat of the Houston Astros on Friday. One start earlier, he'd given up seven runs against Seattle.

"You go borderline crazy after bad starts," Cobb said. "You start running your mechanics through your mind thousands of times and it keeps you up at night sometimes. It feels good to come out and see that your adjustments paid off."

Cobb has won three straight starts against the Orioles while allowing four runs in 21 1/3 innings.

On Tuesday, Chris Davis smacked a grand slam to highlight a five-run third inning for the Orioles. Steve Pearce belted a two-run shot and scored two runs, while Gonzalez (4-4) allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks over five frames for the Orioles.

Zach Britton fired a scoreless ninth to notch his eighth save of the year. Sean Rodriguez and Desmond Jennings cracked back-to-back homers in the third for Tampa Bay.

Erik Bedard (3-5) surrendered five runs on four hits and two walks over four- plus innings to absorb the loss.






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