A rough 10-game run of pitching for the Orioles (Gausman impressive today)

Orioles pitching is going through a bit of a tough stretch here. The Tigers have scored 15 runs on 20 hits and and hit seven homers over the last two days. Over the last 10 games - a stretch that began with that four-game series at Toronto - the O's pitching staff has given up 61 runs with a team ERA of 5.95. The Orioles have allowed six runs or more six times in those 10 contests. As for the O's starting pitchers, they have just two quality starts with an ERA of 5.80 in the 10 games, allowing 35 earned runs over 54 1/3 innings. In seven of the 10 games, the O's starter pitched less than six innings. Orioles pitchers have allowed 15 homers over the last five games. The O's staff has allowed 77 homers in 500 2/3 innings on the year. The Orioles 1.38 homers allowed per nine innings is second only to Houston's 1.39 homers per nine. By the way, the Orioles today complete a 17-game stretch of games that began May 17 against the Rays, Yankees, Blue Jays, Nats and Tigers. The Orioles are 8-8 in this stretch, which is not bad considering they began the stretch 0-4. Those were the final four games of a six-game losing streak. Kevin Gausman's day has at least started well. He allowed a one-out infield single in the top of the first, but then got Miguel Cabrera to hit into an inning-ending double play. He threw a couple of nice sliders to Cabrera and was able to keep many of his fastballs down in the zone. That was his goal for today when we talked here at Camden Yards on Friday. As you watch Gausman pitch today, feel free to leave a few comments and/or questions about him here. Now that was a good outing: If he comes out after six innings, and he might, Kevin Gausman has had a heckuva outing today against the Detroit Tigers. He is at 96 pitches and that is the most he has thrown all year. The previous high was 94 on April 28 at Double-A Bowie. He has allowed one run on the Prince Fielder homer in the fourth on a 3-0 pitch, but just five hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Today, O's fans saw the Gausman that some of us saw at Bowie. He pounded the zone with fastballs down and mixed in some very strong secondary pitches. Cabrera, who has been all-world this year against just about everyone, goes 0-for-3 against Gausman, hitting into two double plays and with one strikeout. Those that panicked over Gausman's first two outings can resume breathing normally now. Matusz comes in: Brian Matusz came on to start the seventh. Final line for Gausman: 6 IP, 5 hits, 1 R-ER, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts. He threw 63 strikes among his 96 pitches and lowered his ERA to 7.20.