Gausman and Machado keep Orioles rolling in 9-4 win

Kevin Gausman didn't exhibit the same dominant form tonight as he displayed in his last start in Oakland. He hoisted the bar pretty high. But making big pitches in tight spots proved just as impressive - and more profitable if counting wins.

Manny Machado will profit later.

Machado homered twice, including his eighth career grand slam in the seventh inning, and Gausman maintained his roll in the Orioles' 8-4 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 28,170 at Camden Yards.

Gausman scattered 11 hits and was charged with two runs in 7 1/3 innings, the second scoring after Richard Bleier replaced him. He's allowed two runs or fewer in his last five starts and his ERA is down to 3.18. He didn't walk a batter tonight and struck out six.

Machado cleared the bases with two outs in the seventh after reliever Ryne Stanek struck out the first two batters he faced while inheriting Jake Faria's mess. Machado has 12 home runs and 35 RBIs on the season and he's the youngest Oriole at 25 years and 309 days to reach 150 career homers.

The tally on Machado's career multi-homer games is up to 18.

The Orioles (11-27) have crafted their first three-game winning streak since taking seven in a row from Aug. 23-30, 2017. They've scored 32 runs in the first four games of the homestand.

Adam Jones extended his hitting streak to seven games with a one-out single in the first and Machado drove a Faria slider into the left field seats for a 2-0 lead. Trey Mancini scored from first base on Jonathan Schoop's two-out double in the sixth inning and Mark Trumbo hit his first home run with a solo shot in the seventh.

The Orioles weren't done.

Chance Sisco singled, Anthony Santander was hit by a pitch and Jace Peterson walked to fill the bases and remove Faria. Mancini and Jones struck out, but Machado unloaded.

Machado is the fourth-fastest player to reach 150 home runs with the Orioles at 802 games, trailing Chris Davis (587), Rafael Palmeiro (623) and Frank Robinson (689).

The Rays tallied three runs in the eighth, but Sisco homered with two outs in the bottom half.

The Rays stranded eight runners through the first seven innings. Gausman had one clean frame, retiring the side in order in the second on two strikeouts and a comebacker.

Two singles sandwiched around a wild pitch in the third produced a run that reduced the lead to 2-1, but two singles in the fourth were followed by two fielder's choice grounders.

The Orioles turned a slick 4-6-3 double play to get out of the fifth, which started with Adeiny Hechavarria's leadoff double and included Sisco's diving catch of Denard Span's bunted pop up. May the force out be with you on "Star Wars Night," but the Orioles needed to turn two.

Gausman allowed two more singles in the sixth, but he struck out Mallex Smith looking at a 97 mph fastball.

Span doubled with one out in the seventh, but C.J. Cron fouled out and Joey Wendle grounded out on Gausman's 99th pitch. Richard Bleier was warming, but he sat down.

Manager Buck Showalter summoned Bleier with one out in the eight after Matt Duffy singled. Gausman received a standing ovation, but the mood changed after Carlos Gomez's two-run triple and Craig Gentry's throwing error.

Bleier hadn't allowed any of nine inherited runners to score before tonight and hadn't been scored upon since April 2. His ERA rose from 0.40 to 1.17 after he retired only one batter.

Brad Brach recorded the last four outs.