Benches warned, Gausman done for day (Cruz homers, O's lose 7-5)

Tigers starter Justin Verlander threw a fastball behind Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz in the bottom of the fourth inning, an apparent retaliation for Monday night's bench-clearing incident.

Plate umpire John Tumpane warned both dugouts, bringing manager Buck Showalter onto the field for a brief discussion.

Showalter most likely wondered why Verlander wasn't tossed and why the Orioles were warned.

Verlander bounced a curveball in the dirt and fired a 94 mph fastball behind Cruz, who took a step toward the mound and stopped. Cruz reached on an infield hit on the next pitch, an 86 mph slider.

Bud Norris was ejected Friday night after hitting Torii Hunter in the ribs following Ian Kinsler's two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning. The benches and bullpens emptied, and Hunter continued to yell at Norris after reaching first base.

Hunter told reporters yesterday that he forgives Norris, who denied that the pitch was intentional.

Kevin Gausman threw 87 pitches, 10 more than in any start at Triple-A Norfolk, and was replaced by Miguel Gonzalez in the top of the fifth with the Orioles trailing 5-0.

Gausman allowed five runs and six hits in four innings, with two walks, two strikeouts and a wild pitch.

Gonzalez was scheduled to start Thursday in Kansas City, but left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has been pushed back a day.

Before today, Orioles starters had posted a 2.94 ERA over the last five games, allowing 11 earned runs in 33 2/3 innings. Their ERA ranked fifth in the American League during that span.

Update: Well, that escalated quickly.

The Orioles scored five runs off Verlander in the fifth, all with two outs, and cut the Tigers' lead to 6-5 before Rajai Davis hit a solo homer off Gonzalez with two outs in the top of the sixth.

Did Verlander wake a sleeping giant?

Cruz concluded the rally with a three-run shot to left field. He glared at Verlander as he rounded first and may have said a few words.

David Lough, batting .167, started the rally with a one-out single. Manny Machado walked with two outs and Adam Jones and Chris Davis followed with RBI singles.

Cruz launched his 11th home run - increasing his RBI total to 33.

Verlander hadn't allowed five runs in a start all season, and it happened today in one inning.

Update II: The Tigers completed the sweep with a 7-5 victory over the Orioles before 36,727 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles hadn't been swept this season. They've lost four in a row and fall to 20-18.

The Orioles scored in only three innings in the series, with all five runs today coming in the fifth.

This is the first time that the Orioles have been swept in a three-game series at home since May 17-19, 2013.

Will the Orioles make another roster move and send down Gausman or keep him on the 25-man roster? Who's the long man Thursday night in Kansas City?