O's game blog: It's the kid against the king (Davis homers for 2-1 win in 10)

Well, we sure have an interesting pitching matchup in Seattle tonight. The Orioles' Kevin Gausman (4-3, 4.04 ERA) faces the Mariners' Felix Hernandez (11-2, 2.02 ERA).

Hernandez won the 2010 American League Cy Young Award and may be on his way to another one.

He leads the AL in ERA and quality starts (19). He ranks second in innings (151 1/3), strikeouts (163) and WHIP (0.90). He is third with a .197 average against and tied for third in the AL in victories.

As good as King Felix has been over his career, a strong case could be made that this is his best year. He has recorded what would be career bests in ERA, WHIP, hits per nine innings (6.4), homers per nine (0.3), walks per nine (1.7) and strikeout per nine innings (9.7).

If that is not enough, the 28-year-old right-hander has tied an AL record by recording 12 straight starts of seven innings or more while allowing two runs or less. In those games, he is 7-1 with a 1.48 ERA.

Hernandez has tied the AL record set by Hall of Famer Chief Bender (June-August 1907) and is one off the major league record of 13 by Tom Seaver (July-September 1971).

But facing a top starting pitcher is nothing new for Gausman this year. In his eight starts, he has faced Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle, Alex Cobb, Jake Peavy and Sonny Gray twice. He also pitched on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball."

In those seven games, the Orioles have gone 5-2. So the kid has held his own.

This would probably be considered one of the best wins of the year if the Orioles can get it tonight.

Machado and Jimenez updates: Before tonight's game, manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Manny Machado could be available as a reserve tonight and could start tomorrow. Machado has missed the last four games with tightness in his lower back.

Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez threw two innings and 40 pitches today in a simulated game in Seattle. His next step is a minor league rehab assignment. Jimenez has been on the disabled list since July 13, retroactive to July 8, with a right ankle sprain.

Cruz missile for the lead: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead on a Nelson Cruz homer to left in the top of the second. He hit the first pitch, a 91 mph changeup, on a line drive that just cleared the fence.

It was homer No. 29 for Cruz and ended a 12-game homerless stretch where he went 6-for-44. Cruz has now recorded six consecutive seasons of 20 or more homers and 75 or more RBIs.

Hernandez had allowed just five homers all year over 151 1/3 innings coming into tonight's start.

Still a pitchers' duel, Jimenez to pitch for Aberdeen: Through four and a half innings, the Orioles are still holding a 1-0 lead. Gausman has allowed three hits and Seattle is 0-for-6 tonight with runners in scoring position. Hernandez has given up three hits through five with no walks and eight strikeouts on 78 pitches.

The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds announced via Twitter tonight that Jimenez will make a rehab start for the team on Tuesday night at Ripken Stadium. He may then pitch for a higher level affiliate.

Crazy last of the fifth: The Orioles got a break in the bottom of the fifth. Gausman walked No. 9 hitter Brad Miller with one out. The next batter, Endy Chavez, hit a ground ball into right field and Miller advanced to third. But Miller was ruled to have been hit on the foot by the ball and called out. Then with Chavez on second and two outs, James Jones singled to left, but Steve Pearce threw Chavez out at the plate to end the inning. He was out by about 20 feet. The O's maintained their 1-0 lead.

Tied up now: Robinson Cano led off the sixth with a triple off the glove of right fielder Nick Markakis and he scored on a Kendrys Morales sac fly to right to tie the game at 1-1. Markakis' throw home was high and just a bit late to get the runner.

Both starters are out: Gausman and Hernandez are both out of the game and it remains tied 1-1 heading to the eighth.

Brian Matusz got pinch hitter Stefan Romero to fly to left with two on to end the seventh. Gausman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and one run with three walks and strikeouts. He threw 103 pitches. He has allowed one run or less in six of his nine starts.

Hernandez gave up five hits and one run over seven innings with no walks and 10 strikeouts. He tied Tom Seaver's major league record tonight with his 13th straight start of seven or more innings allowing two runs or less.

Davis comes through in 10th: Chris Davis homered to right leading off the top of the 10th, and the Orioles held on for a 2-1 victory over the Mariners. Zach Britton worked the last of the 10th for his 19th save. With the victory, the O's move a season-high 12 games over .500 at 57-45 and have a three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.

The game ended on a successful replay review requested by Showalter. With two down, Cano hit a dribbler in front of the plate that was fielded by Britton, who threw to first. First base umpire Fielden Culbreth originally ruled that Britton's throw pulled Davis off the bag at first and that Cano was safe. But upon review, the call was reversed into the game's final out.

The O's are now 5-3 on their 10-game West Coast road trip, and can finish with no worse than a .500 record on the swing.