Baltimore Orioles, Kevin Gausman blanked in Boston

It’s tough for the Baltimore Orioles to win if they don’t put any runs up for Kevin Gausman. However consequently, it’s tough to win when your starter gives up five runs and only pitches five innings. Gausman’s line: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K. Granted Fenway Park is a tough place to pitch for anyone – especially a young starter like Gausman. However you have to figure out how to win there if you’re going to win in the AL East.

Courtesy of Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Boston took a 1-0 lead on a Bogaerts RBI-double in the last of the third. However the O’s did minimize the damage in that inning as Pedroia was thrown out at home plate on the same play. At the time you have to figure that one run means a lot in these so meaningful games for the Orioles. So the fact that they were able to cut one down at the plate (at that moment) was huge.

Jays Journal

Two innings later in the fifth, Gausman would uncork a wild pitch with a runner on third, allowing a second run the score. RBI-doubles by Ortiz and Holt later in the inning ran the score to 4-0 in Boston’s favor. Those same two would combine in the last of the eighth to double in three more runs, and Boston defeated the Orioles 7-0 to start the series off.

Preserving the bullpen isn’t quite as important at this stage as it has been given the fact that the rosters are expanded. Furthermore in their current situation with the standings, the Orioles are probably employing an all hands on deck type of mentality – at all positions, not just pitchers. However the Birds need their starters to go deeper than the fifth inning. 

More from Orioles News

• Baltimore Orioles Sign RP Mychal Givens
• Gunnar Henderson: Destroyer of Four-Seam Fastballs
• Which Current Baltimore Orioles Pitchers Have the Best Curveballs?
• Orioles News: Should the O’s Pursue Eovaldi? + More MLB News
• Should the Baltimore Orioles Consider Signing Nathan Eovaldi?

Play off chase or not, it’s sink or swim time for Gausman. This is not to say that his spot in the rotation isn’t all but gauranteed for next year, because I think that it is. But the Orioles appear to finally be removing the kid gloves and thus showing willingness to let Gausman have the job that they wanted him to have since they drafted him. So it behooves him to finish off strong in 2015 (regular or post season) to give him confidence going into next spring.

The series with Boston continues this afternoon with Wei-Yin Chen on the mound for the Orioles. He’ll be opposed by Boston’s Craig Breslow. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Next: Baltimore Orioles should be wary of Scott Boras

More from Birds Watcher

• Baltimore Orioles Sign RP Mychal Givens
• Gunnar Henderson: Destroyer of Four-Seam Fastballs
• Which Current Baltimore Orioles Pitchers Have the Best Curveballs?
• Orioles News: Should the O’s Pursue Eovaldi? + More MLB News
• Should the Baltimore Orioles Consider Signing Nathan Eovaldi?