Gausman with an early exit as A's rout O's

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

July 20, 2014, 3:23pm

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The first Kevin Gausman-Sonny Gray pitching matchup went to the Orioles. This one went to the A's. In a big way.

Oakland took an early 3-0 lead in the third and then poured it on, scoring seven runs in the middle innings to rout the Orioles 10-2 this afternoon. Oakland (61-37) takes two of three for the second time this year against the Orioles.

The O's fall to 53-44 and their American League East lead is now three games over Toronto and New York, who both won today.

On June 7, Gausman gave up one run in seven innings and the Orioles got five off Gray in a Baltimore victory. This time was much different.

Gausman was down 2-0 just three batters into the game and pitched four innings plus one batter. He gave up a season-high nine hits and five runs, which matched his season-high. Gausman threw 88 pitches and falls to 4-3 with an ERA of 4.04. He had pitched to an ERA of 2.36 his previous six starts.

Orioles starters had pitched to an ERA of 3.22 over the last 35 games.

Gray was strong from the start. Over 6 2/3 innings, he gave up just two hits and two runs (one earned) with two walks and eight strikeouts. He is now 11-3 with an ERA of 2.72. He had given up 11 runs over 8 2/3 in his first two career starts versus Baltimore.

John Jaso, Josh Donaldson and Craig Gentry had two RBIs each as Oakland won for the 13th time in 15 home games and improved to 17-11 against the American League East.

The Orioles were no-hit until J.J. Hardy's RBI double in the fifth. Manny Machado added an RBI single in the seventh. Machado has reached base in a career-high 19 consecutive games. Oakland outhit the Orioles 15-3.

After facing the team with the best record in the majors over the last three days, the Orioles now move on to face the club with the second-best record in the majors in the next three. In the series opener Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels, Bud Norris (7-6, 3.96 ERA) is expected to come off the disabled list to face right-hander Matt Shoemaker (7-2, 4.38 ERA) at 10:05 p.m.