Chris Archer shuts down Orioles in series opener at The Trop

It looks like Chris Archer's struggles this season and against the Orioles are over. Archer pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings tonight as the Rays beat the Orioles 2-0 at Tropicana Field. Behind the right-hander's strong outing, Tampa Bay takes the opener of this three-game series.

The Orioles fall to 1-3 on this road trip, 6-3 against the American League East and to 11-7 on the season.

Archer began tonight with an 0-4 record and 7.32 ERA over four starts. The Orioles hit four homers and scored six runs off him April 8. He was allowing a batting average against of .345.

But showing a solid fastball and sharp slider, Archer allowed just five hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out 10. He threw 93 pitches, 65 for strikes. Archer ended a long losing skid. He had been 0-7 with an ERA of 6.39 over his previous 10 starts. His career record against the Orioles was 2-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 10 games.

His strong outing made it tough for the Orioles' Kevin Gausman, who allowed just one run but took the loss in his season debut. Gausman, who came off the disabled list before the game, came out throwing gas and showed a very good breaking ball as well. It was a very encouraging outing for him.

After making three rehab starts in the minors, he went five innings tonight, allowing three hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts. He threw 91 pitches and provided a lift to the Orioles rotation, even on a night they didn't win.

A 3-2 breaking ball to Steven Souza Jr. in the fifth was called ball four on a close pitch and he took first base. One out later, No. 9 hitter Curt Casali doubled to left off Gausman to score Souza for the 1-0 lead.

An inning later, Brian Matusz replaced Gausman and walked leadoff batter Corey Dickerson. Matusz got the next two outs, but then a single and walk loaded the bases, and Vance Worley came on. But his 2-1 pitch drifted inside and hit Casali. It went for a hit-by-pitch and an RBI - his second tonight - for a 2-0 lead.

The Orioles were held to just three runs total in losses Friday and Sunday at Kansas City. Tonight, they were blanked for the first time since Sept. 27 at Boston. The O's have not scored in 17 consecutive innings since the opening inning yesterday at Kauffman Stadium. Tonight, they struck out 11 times and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Tampa Bay has now won six of its last nine games to improve to 9-10 on the season. In the second game of this series on Tuesday night, Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.97 ERA) pitches against O's right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 3.71 ERA).