Gausman, three relievers pitch O's past Blue Jays (quotes added)

TORONTO - Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman ran some deep pitch counts. He didn't get deep in this game. But he also didn't give up any runs, with an assist from the bullpen and his catcher.

Gausman threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings tonight as the Orioles beat Toronto 3-1 in front of 40,606 at Rogers Centre to start a three-game series. The Orioles move back to .500 at 38-38 and move two games ahead of Toronto for fourth place in the American League East. They are 8-2 versus the Blue Jays on the year.

The Orioles have won three straight road games for the first time since April 12-14 and are 4-1 at Rogers Centre this season. This is their first three-game win streak since May 31-June 2.

They came within one out of their fourth shutout, but Troy Tulowitzki homered off Brad Brach with two outs in the last of the ninth.

Gausman began the night with an ERA of 6.47 and just four quality starts for the season over 16 starts. He didn't add to that total, but did record his first scoreless start of the 2017 season. He gave up four singles, two walks and fanned four. He threw 99 pitches and is now 4-7 with an ERA of 6.07.

Gausman faced the minimum 12 batters through four and then pitched out of a first-and-third, two-out jam an inning later. But he needed help in the sixth after a single and walk with one out as he was holding a 3-0 lead.

Mychal Givens came on and issued a wild pitch, putting runners on second and third. Givens got Josh Donaldson to line to third, but then walked Justin Smoak to bring Kendrys Morales to the plate. Givens got him to chase a high 95 mph fastball to strike out with the bases loaded. Also in that inning, catcher Welington Castillo blocked several pitches in the dirt and kept a runner from scoring from third on at least two occasions.

With Castillo's assist, Givens provided 1 2/3 scoreless innings tonight. Darren O'Day threw a scoreless eighth and Brach got the final three outs for his 14th save in 17 chances.

The Orioles offense provided an early lead tonight. They scored twice in the top of the first with a two-out rally. With no one on, Jonathan Schoop singled to left and Adam Jones worked an eight-pitch walk.

Designated hitter Mark Trumbo then crushed a two-run double off the top of the center field wall, not missing a homer by much. Trumbo blasted a pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Joe Biagini 419 feet and with an exit velocity of 111 mph. He now has 37 RBIs.

In the third, the O's added to their lead with another two-out rally. Schoop doubled to left with two outs and scored on Jones' single to left. That made it 3-0. Schoop is 2-for-2 and now batting .300.

The Orioles could not add on to that total and won a game when scoring three or fewer runs for the first time since June 2.

In Game 2 of this series on Wednesday night, lefty Wade Miley (3-5, 4.48 ERA) pitches against right-hander Marcus Stroman (7-4, 3.69 ERA).

Here's a sampling of quotes from the clubhouse:

Manager Buck Showalter said Gausman got key outs deep in counts: "Yeah, there were a lot of 3-2 counts, but he made that pitch. There's such a fine line between a good outing and a challenging outing. I thought the key to the game was Jonesy's walk in the first inning. I thought so at the time. Those things are really a momentum (builder), even in the first inning, that when you have that kind of at-bat, you can pass the baton to some pretty good hitters. Three runs usually in this park, you don't like your chances."

Showalter said relievers got it done late in game: "Yeah, but that's only going to happen if we get five, six, seven (innings) and get a competitive game out of them (the starters). I think even using those three guys tonight is a reminder about how many few times we've had them. But hopefully Zach (Britton) is close to returning, too, but it's not going to matter if we don't get deeper into games and stay competitive through those first five to seven innings."

Gausman on battling through some deep counts: "That has kind of been my M.O. this season. If I do get to two strikes, seems like I do get two balls and two strikes pretty quick after. That is one thing I'm really trying to be better at - really all of us starters - is first-pitch strikes. They fouled off a lot of pitches and you have to give credit to them battling and fouling good pitches off. That first inning, getting a groundball double play, that's huge right off the bat. That was something I was trying to do that whole at bat and finally got him."

Gausman on whether some things are finally coming together for him: "Yeah. I've definitely been more consistent and not having those blowup innings that I had early in the season. It's tough pitching in the American League. I've done it for a couple of years now, but the biggest thing is the scouting report is out on me. Guys know what I have. I have to be a little better at knowing what guys are trying to do against me. It is one of those things, that's why you have the bullpen sessions in between. It is a flip of a coin. Some days, you go out there and you'll have the best stuff you had all season and give up eight runs pretty quick. Other days, like today, I had to grind, but had my first scoreless outing of the season."

Schoop on winning three in a row to build some momentum: "This team, we play hard and we believe in each other. It was a tough time, but everyone believes in each other. We grinded through it and hope that the good moments are coming."

Schoop on whether he is locked in at the plate: "I'm just swinging at strikes. Every year, I want to be better. I know I have to work to get better. I'm swinging at better pitches. Swing at strikes and the rest will come. Better things will happen."

Jones on Trumbo's two-run double: "It was huge. Any time you can go out there and take a lead against a team like that, let our starter go out there and relax a little bit and give him a little bit of breathing room, it's huge. It's enormous to just be able to scratch the surface and make the other pitcher, make him go out there and throw 15, 18 to 20 pitches to get him out of his rhythm and get him into the stretch. Like I said, it was a tribute to how our hitters are grinding through at bats. Schoop had a hell of an at bat and he grinded him out and Trumbo was able to get a good pitch and drive it."