Gausman bested by Archer in Orioles' 2-0 loss to Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Kevin Gausman had the misfortune in his first start this season of going against a rejuvenated Chris Archer.
Archer struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings to end a 10-start winless streak, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Gausman and the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Monday night.
Gausman (0-1) returned from the disabled list and struck out seven while pitching one-run ball through five innings. The right-hander missed the start of the season with a right shoulder strain.
"Honestly, it felt like I hadn't pitched in years," Gausman said. "At times I had to step off the mound and refocus and try to tell myself to calm down."
It was the first time as a starter that Gausman took the loss when allowing one run or fewer.
"You could tell with Archer, the way he was pitching it was going to be a fine line of margin for error there," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
Archer (1-4) allowed five hits to get his first win since beating the Orioles on Aug. 31. The Rays opening day starter was 0-7 during the winless stretch.
"He executed pitches," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He broke out the changeup early and that was a really big weapon for him."
Archer also ended a 10-start winless run at home, which included six losses, dating to a June 23 victory over Toronto.
Curt Casali caught Archer for the first time this season and also drove in both runs.
Alex Colome got the final out for his fourth save to complete the five-hitter.
Steven Souza Jr. drew a walk and later scored from first to make it 1-0 on Casali's two-out double in the fifth. It was Casali's third hit in 27 at-bats.
After Gausman hit Logan Forsythe with a pitch and walked Steve Pearce to load the bases, the right-hander got a flyball from Evan Longoria that ended the fifth.
Tampa Bay went up 2-0 in the sixth when Vance Worley, who replaced Brian Matusz with the bases loaded and two outs, hit Casali with a pitch. Worley avoided further damage by getting an inning-ending grounder from Forsythe.
Pedro Alvarez doubled twice off Archer but was stranded both times.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Utility man Jimmy Paredes (left wrist) worked out with the team and is set to start a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday. ... CF Adam Jones took a long walk around the batter's box after a swinging strike in the ninth. He later grounded out. "I saw some of the same things you did," Showalter said. "Is it frustration or is it something else? I don't know."
NUMBERS GAME
Orioles RF Mark Trumbo extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the second. ... Baltimore 3B Manny Machado, who had a season-opening 16-game hitting streak end Sunday, went 0 for 4 and is hitless in his last nine at-bats.
MOVING DAY
To make room on the roster for Gausman, INF Ryan Flaherty was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. "There's a lot of factors," Showalter said. "Nothing that Ryan didn't do. It's kind of where we are with the pitching. Want to keep some length." ... Baltimore claimed RHP David Hale off waivers from Colorado and optioned him to Norfolk.
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) will go against Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-1) on Tuesday night. Odorizzi has a 2.56 ERA in home games since the start of the 2014 season and allowed one earned run or fewer in 19 of 32 starts over the stretch.