Kevin Gausman and Brian Matusz talk about their night in Frederick (plus other notes)

FREDERICK - The Single-A Frederick Keys have long been a team that draws well at the gate. But last night's attendance produced a big crowd even for the Keys, as 5,712 came to Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. They came to see two Orioles pitch on injury rehab assignments.

The Keys lost 4-0 to Lynchburg, but the fans got to see right-hander Kevin Gausman and left-hander Brian Matusz pitch. It was the largest April crowd in Frederick in four years, except for when Manny Machado played here in 2014.

Both pitchers felt good after their outings. Gausman got a cortisone injection March 20 and is on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. Matusz has joined him on the O's DL with a lower back strain.

Gausman made the start and went 3 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) with two walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches, 45 for strikes, and the stadium radar gun showed some mid-90s fastballs. Matusz went three innings, allowing two hits and one run on a solo homer. He did not walk a batter and struck out three, throwing 33 pitches, 27 for strikes.

Does Gausman feel ready to rejoin the Orioles rotation possibly as soon as next Wednesday?

"You now, right now, I feel like I'm ready," Gausman said in the Keys clubhouse. "We'll see how my body reacts tomorrow and go from there. I think now it is up to them (O's management) whether I'm ready or not. I feel ready, but pitching a high-A game and throwing 80 pitches is a lot different than a major league game. But right now, the arm feels good. I'm recovering very quickly and that is a good sign.

"More than anything, I would want to get to sitting down and getting back up (from the dugout) five times. That was my goal tonight. But I almost had too many strikeouts and I threw too many pitches.

"I think the biggest thing, being a starter, is sitting down multiple times and getting back up multiple times. I felt good out there and threw some real good pitches. I wish I would have thrown more first-pitch outs."

Gausman fanned two Lynchburg batters in the first and second innings, and struck out the side after a leadoff infield hit in the third. He struck out the leadoff hitter in the fourth, but two singles and a walk followed to load the bases and end his night.

Was having that many strikeouts a sign of some real good stuff? Gausman said at times that was true, but he also worked on getting hitters to chase some pitches and the Hillcats batters obliged.

"I threw pitches out of the zone when I wanted to and I was happy about that," he said. "I think last season as a whole we gave up way too many two-strike hits. That has been a focus of ours. When we get a guy two strikes, not to give him anything that he can do anything with. That is a good sign going forward."

So is the fact that his shoulder feels strong and healthy.

"It feels good and that is the most promising thing," Gausman said. "I'm just happy this wasn't anything too serious. It was frustrating to kick your butt the entire offseason and come into camp feeling great, but start the season on the DL. It tests your faith. It tests a lot of things in your life, but just happy it is almost over with. Happy to get out there and pitch for the Orioles."

It should be noted the Keys made two outstanding defensive plays to help Gausman. First baseman Cam Kneeland made a diving stop at first base with the bases loaded in the first and left fielder Jay Gonzalez made a sprawling catch of a shot to left the batter right after Gausman left the game. It went for a sac fly and that run was charged to Gausman. But it didn't go for an extra-base hit that might have cleared the bases.

As for Matusz, he gave up a solo homer to the third man he faced, Lynchburg cleanup hitter Bobby Bradley. But Matusz retired nine of 11 batters pitching the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. It was much better than his most recent outing, last Monday at Double-A Bowie, where he allowed seven hits and six runs in an inning.

"I felt good," Matusz said. "Worked well with Austin (Wynns, Keys catcher) behind the plate. Just mixing changeup in, threw a couple of good curveballs, slider. Located the fastball in and out, and elevated up and worked down. Felt good.

"It was really important to bounce back after the last outing. Come out and pound the zone with authority. Worked on staying closed a little bit better and finishing through with pitches. It's a confidence builder and something to build off of."

It was indeed a step forward for the O's lefty.

"Overall, I was able to go three innings, which was the goal, and be able to throw strikes. I was able to find a groove out there and be able to throw all four pitches for strikes. You know, I think today was a step forward and it was positive. I'll discuss (the next step) with everybody and go from there."

Both pitchers made some nice comments about the Keys fans and staff and returning to pitch in the minors.

"The people out here, they love the Keys," Gausman said. "Even just signing autographs, you could tell how excited people are that me and Brian are here. You know, it is good for us to come back down here and see where we started.

"A great atmosphere here, it's always been like that. It was cool before the game I think I had 100 little kids that each said their name when they came by. You know, that is what the game is all about."

Matusz began his pro career in Frederick in 2009 and went 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 11 starts. He pitched in one game here in 2011.

"You know, it is fun being back in Frederick, where it all started," Matusz said. "It is always fun being back here with the fans and that brings back good memories. The stadium here, everyone is so friendly. Frederick is a great city. Nothing but good memories here."

Connectivity issues: Buck Showalter says sometimes that a player's strong play is delayed but not denied. So it was with this story. Delayed, but not denied.

I had issues connecting to the press box wireless in Frederick or you would have seen a write-up a lot sooner than early Saturday morning. This was no one's fault. I can't tell you how many people took a shot at troubleshooting and I want to thank so many from the Keys staff for trying very hard to help me. Also thanks to Brian Eller from our MASNsports.com staff for posting a game blog for you last night. I had one ready to go but could never post it. That would have been a bad night to not have one and Brian made sure it was there for reader comments.

Meanwhile, in Texas: The Orioles exploded for three homers in a span of four batters and 11 pitches in the seventh inning last night. A 5-1 deficit against Texas quickly turned into a 6-5 lead. They were not done, ending that inning batting 12 men, hitting four homers among their seven hits and scoring nine runs.

Mark Trumbo became the first Oriole to hit two homers in one inning. Over his last five games, he is 7-for-21 with five homers and 11 RBIs. He is batting .400 for the year with five homers and 11 RBIs, with all the homers and RBIs coming in this torrid five-game run in which he has homered in four of the games.

So it was a night where in Frederick, some pitchers worked their way closer to Baltimore, and in Texas, some hitters showed their massive power potential is legit.