Gausman starts poorly in Orioles' 6-2 loss to Red Sox
BALTIMORE (AP) - Kevin Gausman remains in search of his first win of the season following an outing that began miserably and improved too late to matter.
After the Orioles right-hander gave up five runs in the first two innings, Baltimore couldn't dig out of the hole in a 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Making his eighth start, Gausman faced a 2-0 deficit after throwing five pitches. Mookie Betts began the game with the first of his three home runs and Dustin Pedrioa followed with a blast to deep center.
Betts added a three-run drive in second inning. Gausman (0-3) settled down from there, blanking the Red Sox over his final four innings and finishing with eight strikeouts.
That saved the bullpen from a long night but did nothing to prevent the Orioles from absorbing their seventh loss in nine games.
"Kind of seemed like the third inning I kind of found it, and by then it was too late," Gausman said.
The Orioles were tied for first place with Boston on May 22, but now stand a season-high three games out after losing the first two of this four-game series.
"They're the best team in baseball right now, so you have to be on your game," Gausman said. "If you're not, it's tough against this team, against this lineup, against their bullpen. Their starters are pitching well too right now, so it kind of seems like everything's clicking for them right now."
The tone for this one was established early, when Gausman became the first Baltimore pitcher to allow back-to-back homers to start a game since Rodrigo Lopez in June 2006.
Betts connected again in the second inning, lined out to second base in the fourth and hit a bases-empty homer in the seventh off Dylan Bundy.
Batting in the ninth inning with a chance to tie the major league record of four homers in a game, Betts grounded out to second against rookie Ashur Tolliver.
"A home run would have been nice," he said, "but I was just trying to get another hit."
Still, he's the first Boston player to hit three homers in a game since Will Middlebrooks against Toronto on April 7, 2013.
Betts' 12 home runs rank second on the team behind David Ortiz, who has 14.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts stretched his career-best hitting streak to 24 games with a single in the seventh inning.
Asked if he was thinking about the streak, Bogaerts said, "Are you kidding me? You live for another day."
It's the second-longest in the majors this season behind teammate Jackie Bradley Jr., whose 29-game streak ended last week.
Bradley was placed on the paternity list Tuesday, but the Red Sox banged out 10 hits without him.
"Jackie leaves us today for the birth of his child," manager John Farrell said. "If he has a boy, I think he ought to name him Mookie after tonight's outing."
Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits in his season debut. The left-hander was activated from the disabled list before the game after being sidelined since March with a right knee injury.
ROSTER MOVES
Red Sox: OF Rusney Castillo was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Bradley on the roster.
Orioles: Backup C Caleb Joseph was placed on the 15-day DL with a testicular injury after being struck by a foul ball in Monday's game. C Francisco Pena was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to play behind Matt Wieters.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: Highly touted prospect Sam Travis, a first baseman, has been lost for the season due to a torn left ACL. The injury occurred in a minor league game Sunday, and the Red Sox he will be ready to return by spring training.
Orioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder) will begin his rehabilitation assignment Thursday with Class A Frederick.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly (2-0, 6.30 ERA) seeks his 11th straight victory on Wednesday night in the third game of the series. The streak began last August and includes a win over Baltimore in April.
Orioles: Mike Wright (2-3, 5.05 ERA) gave up four runs in five innings against