O's game blog: Kevin Gausman faces the Rangers

The Orioles have taken the first two games of their four-game series against Texas by scores of 3-1 and 12-1. They host the Rangers the next two nights to conclude this series.

In three weekend games versus the Cubs, the O's pitching staff allowed 27 runs on 41 hits. In the last two games against Texas, they have allowed two runs on nine hits. With Chris Tillman and Dylan Bundy, they recorded two straight quality starts for the first time since June 1-2.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-7, 6.39 ERA) is set to make his 21st start. His last two have not gone well as he gave up eight runs, four of them home runs, in three innings Friday against the Cubs. In those two games, he has pitched seven innings and yielded 16 hits and 14 runs (13 earned).

Texas left-hander Martín Pérez ( 5-6, 4.55 ERA) is going to make his 18th start. In six road games, Pérez is 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA. He has given up a .321 average versus lefty batters and a .312 average to right-handed hitters.

On Tuesday, Chris Davis hit two home runs, including a grand slam, as the Orioles defeated the Rangers 12-1. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Davis has hit eight grand slams since he joined the Orioles in 2011, the most in the majors in that span. Davis' eight grand slams are tied with Cal Ripken Jr. and Chris Hoiles for the second-most in Orioles history, behind Eddie Murray (16).

On the farm today: There were several day games involving O's affiliates. Scranton beat Triple-A Norfolk 6-3, making the Tides record 40-57. Pedro Álvarez hit a solo homer, his 19th of the season. The losing pitcher was lefty Jason Wheeler, who allowed six runs over 3 2/3 innings. The Orioles acquired Wheeler from the Dodgers on July 2 for international bonus slot money. Today, he became the 14th different pitcher to start for the Tides this year.

The International League today announced that the league's prestigious Executive of the Year Award will be named in memory of longtime Norfolk executive Dave Rosenfield.

When Rosenfield passed away on Feb. 28, the league lost what is believed to be the longest serving executive in its 134-year history. Of Dave's 61 seasons in minor league baseball, 48 were spent in the International League. Among the many honors he received in his lifetime, he was named the industry's 2004 "King of Baseball" and elected to the International League Hall of Fame in 2008.

Double-A Bowie (50-46) at the moment is in a three-way tie for first in the Eastern League's Western Division. The Baysox lost 12-8 at Hartford this afternoon as John Means allowed eight hits and six runs over six innings, and Jason Garcia gave up six runs over two frames. Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is swinging a torrid bat, going 4-for-5 with two doubles. Yastrzemski is 13-for-26 in his last five games and batting .400 in 18 Bowie games. Garabez Rosa hit a three-run homer. It was his 11th to match his career high.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen beat Lowell 5-2. Four players drove in a run each as Kirvin Moesquit, Mason McCoy, T.J. Nichting and Ben Breazeale had RBIs. At 16-12, Aberdeen is one game out of the wild card playoff spot in the New York-Penn League. Right-hander Jimmy Murphy, the club's eighth-round draft pick out of Fordham got the start, allowing one run over four winnings. Winning pitcher Nick Vespi gave up one run over 3 2/3 innings.

The Gulf Coast League Orioles had their game suspended by rain in the third inning of a 0-0 contest with the Red Sox. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, right-hander Hunter Harvey pitched in an affiliated game for the first time since his surgery last July 26. He threw a scoreless first inning allowing two hits on 27 pitches with one strikeout. Rehabbing Mike Wright followed him to the mound, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.