Kevin Gausman fastball clocked at 101 mph (O's win 6-5)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman threw 12 pitches in the fifth inning tonight after relieving starter Wei-Yin Chen. Most of them left a vapor trail.

Gausman's fastball was clocked twice at 101 mph on the Tropicana Field radar gun during Evan Longoria's at-bat. He routinely hit 99 mph, including the only pitch thrown to Desmond Jennings, who popped up to shortstop Everth Cabrera to leave the bases loaded.

The Orioles continue to lead the Rays 6-3. Gausman continues to intrigue.

We're fond of saying it's always 72 degrees at The Trop, but I'm pretty sure Gausman raised the temperature.

Chen allowed three runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, with two walks, four strikeouts, a home run and a hit batter. He threw 96 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Gausman began to warm in the fourth as Chen ran into more trouble and surrendered a two-run homer to Logan Forsythe. He continued to throw as Chen came back out for the fifth and hit Brandon Guyer and walked Steven Souza Jr. with one out.

Chen threw eight pitches in the first inning and 29 in the second. He was done by the fifth, his shortest outing since going 3 1/3 innings last June against the Rays.

Guyer and Souza executed a double steal, but Gausman struck out Asdrubal Cabrera on a 99 mph fastball after feeding him split-changeups.

The Orioles pitched to Longoria with first base open and he eventually drew a walk on an 84 mph slider, but Jennings chased the first pitch he saw and popped weakly to Cabrera.

It's Gausman's game now and he's demonstrating why it's probably better to have him in the bullpen than in Triple-A Norfolk's rotation. He can get important outs, go multiple innings and bring the heat.

Travis Snider has singled, walked twice and driven in a run. Chris Davis, in his first game since Sept. 10, has grounded out, struck out and been hit by a pitch.

Ryan Flaherty walked with two outs in the sixth and Grant Balfour is entering the game for the Rays.

Update: Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer with two outs in the sixth to reduce the lead to 6-5.

Kiermaier drove a 97 mph fastball over the center field fence.

Gausman issued a leadoff walk to Forsythe, which came back to haunt him. He struck out two batters.

Update II: Gausman allowed two runs and one hit in 2 1/3 innings, with two walks, four strikeouts and a home run.

Gausman got the first two outs in the seventh and Darren O'Day retired Evan Longoria on a liner to left field.

Update III: Game over. The Orioles hold on for a 6-5 win over the Rays to lock up a series win.

Zach Britton struck out the side in the ninth for his first save. He also had a scoreless ninth inning last night.

The first four Orioles collected hits tonight, but the club finished with only six.