SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he didn't see the collision earlier today involving Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman and Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario.
He heard it.
Gausman avoided a trip to the hospital after passing a series of concussion tests, but the Orioles will check him closely on Tuesday after he reports to the complex.
"I was watching the ball, the play," Showalter said.
"It's one of your players that has a collision. Concerned about it. It's not a pleasant walk out there. Certainly not for him. You can see how it happens. Both guys are trying to get where they need to be, focused on the play and not each other."
Showalter has seen umpires involved in similar plays, some "brushes," but not a violent collision.
"It's one of those things kind of like a minor accident, you kind of wait and see," Showalter said. "He's going to be sore in some places where he's not normally sore, but he got lucky with his eye. When I first got out there I thought ... but that's how quick things can change."
As for the possibility of a concussion, Showalter said, "They told me they thought we were OK with that, but we'll see what tomorrow brings. He seemed fine."
Candelario exited the game with a bruised left knee.
Gausman was charged with five runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings and the Orioles lost to the Tigers 8-6. They're 0-4-1 and headed to Port Charlotte for Tuesday's game against the Rays.
"That was probably his last hitter anyway, one more hitter," Showalter said. "Typical first outing. He feels good physically and that's the most important thing right now."
Luis Sardiñas delivered an RBI single in the ninth after Anthony Santander singled and Cedric Mullins walked, but the rally fell short. Santander is batting .364.
Colby Rasmus made his Orioles debut and struck out looking in the first inning, fouled out to first baseman John Hicks in the third and grounded to Hicks in the fifth. Hicks made a diving stop and recorded the out.
Santander replaced Rasmus in right field in the top of the sixth.
"He likes it here and we'll let him get comfortable and get into it," Showalter said of Rasmus. "Today was his first day out there on the field. It was the day he picked to get started and it's part of the process. I know Adam (Jones) is excited to see him out there in right field defensively."
Mullins entered the game in left field in the sixth and threw out Jason Krizan trying to score on Leonys Martin's single off left-hander Joely Rodriguez. Krizan was hit by a pitch and moved up on a single. Mullins is trying to remove any doubts about his throwing arm.
"For some people, of his tools, that's one that doesn't rate real high," Showalter said. "Your footspeed and quickness allow you to get to the ball quicker than other guys. Top of the hop, doesn't have to be ... He'll throw out the people he's supposed to throw out, especially playing in left field.
"There was a play the other day that one of our guys didn't make that he would have made because he would have gotten to the ball quicker and been a little more accurate. And the guy who didn't make the play had a little more arm strength. He would have gotten to it quicker and probably been a little more accurate top of the hop guy.
"The throws that he's supposed to make, he'll make."
Jonathan Schoop, recovered from the bursitis in his left elbow, hit a three-run homer and singled in three at-bats.
"They drained his elbow," Showalter said. "Maybe we should drain it again tonight."
The at-bat against Spencer Turnbull that produced the home run really impressed Showalter.
"Those little things you kind of see young players growing up," Showalter said. "He's sitting on a breaking ball strike there. Not a breaking ball, a breaking ball strike, because a breaking ball, if it's in the right place you're not going to be able to do much with it. He's sitting on a breaking ball strike. Especially when a guy's having trouble with the command of his fastball, a lot of catchers will start a guy off with a breaking ball strike and that's what he got."
Tim Beckham started two 5-4-3 double plays this afternoon to close the first and fourth innings.
Chance Sisco threw out JaCoby Jones trying to steal in the fifth after the left fielder's RBI single off Jeff Ferrell gave Detroit a 6-4 lead. Sisco bounced the throw, but the ball still got to Schoop in time.
Sisco greeted left-hander Tyler Alexander with a sharp single into center field in the bottom of the fifth. The kid is going to hit.
Rodriguez, Mychal Givens, Richard Bleier, Donnie Hart and Jimmy Yacabonis each tossed a scoreless inning. Hart was the only one to retire the side in order and he recorded a strikeout.
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