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Richards hopes to bounce back against Orioles

Jul 30, 2014 - 2:42 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Angels will hope that Garrett Richards can bounce back from his first loss in nearly two months as the right-hander takes the mound on Wednesday evening for the second contest of a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles.

Richards is coming off a 6-4 loss to Detroit on Thursday, one that put an end his seven-decision winning streak. He yielded four runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings, the most runs he gave up in a start since his last previous setback on May 30.

He was charged with five runs in just two-thirds of an inning at Oakland in that one.

Against the Tigers, Richards gave up seven hits for the first time since yielding 10 on May 19 and he failed to reach seven innings of work for the first time in six starts.

"Garrett got some pitches in the zone and their guys caught up to them," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

The 26-year-old is still a solid 11-3 with a 2.62 earned run average on the season and will try to improve on his subpar career numbers against the Orioles. In five previous meetings, with just one start, Richards is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.

Baltimore righty Kevin Gausman, meanwhile, will square off against one of the top pitchers in the league for a third straight start. He lost against Oakland's Sonny Gray back on July 20, but then held his own on Friday in a no- decision against Seattle and stud hurler Felix Hernandez.

The 23-year-old kept the Orioles in the game by giving up one run on seven hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings and Baltimore was able to claim a 2-1 victory in extra innings.

It marked the sixth time in nine starts this year that Gausman allowed one run or fewer and he is 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA.

He faces the Angels for the first time looking to secure a quick series win after the Orioles claimed a 7-6 win on Tuesday in 12 innings.

Manny Machado had the winning hit, belting a leadoff shot in the frame off Angels reliever Cory Rasmus for his first career walk-off homer.

"Once I hit it I knew it was out," Machado said. "I had chills running around the bases."

The American League-East leading Orioles improved to 12-3 in extra innings, including 6-0 in July.

Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer for Baltimore, which was coming off a successful 6-4 road trip and is 2 1/2 games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the division, with the New York Yankees 4 1/2 games off the pace.

Josh Hamilton homered and drove in three runs during a three-hit night for the Angels, who had won four of five entering the set but dropped 2 1/2 games back of Oakland for first place in the AL West.

"We had some opportunities and couldn't get it done," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

The Orioles slugged their way to victory without first baseman Chris Davis, who was held out of the lineup and sent home by the club due to flu-like symptoms. His status for this game is unknown

Dealing with flu-like symptoms, Chris Davis was out of the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The slugger was sent home for the day.

Davis slugged 53 homes and drove in 138 runs last year, but is batting a mere .199 in 2014 with 17 homers and 51 RBI.

The Orioles have won eight of their last 11 versus the Angels.