Orioles can't reward Gausman in 2-1 loss

NEW YORK - Kevin Gausman is going to win a road start. It's bound to happen.

He certainly is due.

The Yankees scored twice off Gausman in the first three innings and turned to their imposing bullpen to defeat the Orioles 2-1 before an announced crowd of 31,102.

The loss dropped the Orioles' record to 53-38 overall and 20-24 on the road. They're 2-2 since the break.

The Orioles have scored 51 runs in their last 14 games since leaving San Diego. Why would anyone leave San Diego?

Gausman retired 12 in a row after walking Alex Rodriguez with two outs in the third inning. Rob Refsnyder reached on an infield hit with two outs in the seventh and rookie Donnie Hart replaced the starter.

Matt Wieters threw out Refsnyder trying to steal with Brett Gardner at the plate.

In 6 2/3 innings, Gausman allowed two runs and six hits, walked one, struck out six and served up a costly home run to Rodriguez. He threw 110 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Rodriguez later hit the dirt to avoid a 98 mph heater tailing in toward his head. Rodriguez stayed down for a little while, struck out and glared at Gausman as he walked to the dugout.

Gausman (1-7, 4.05 ERA) hasn't been victorious in a road start since Aug. 22, 2014, a span of 22 outings. The stat may not seem important, considering how many factors play into a pitcher's record and how much is out of his control, but he'd still like to get a win. It's still a big-time drought.

Gausman has posted a 1.38 ERA in three starts versus the Yankees this season, allowing three runs over 20 2/3 innings. He still hasn't beaten them.

The Orioles are 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position since the break, including 0-for-5 tonight. Ryan Flaherty stole second base and advanced to third on an error with two outs in the seventh, but Dellin Betances struck out Jonathan Schoop to preserve a 2-1 lead.

The Orioles loaded the bases in the first inning on Adam Jones' leadoff single, Mark Trumbo's two-out walk and an Ivan Nova pitch that hit Wieters on the foot, but Pedro Alvarez popped up.

Schoop led off the third inning with his 16th home run to tie the game 1-1. Manny Machado followed with a single, but he was stranded.

Nolan Reimold walked in the fourth and Flaherty reached on an infield single behind third base, but Reimold slipped and fell rounding second and was tagged out.

Nova retired the last seven batters he faced before Betances took over in the seventh. Andrew Miller induced a double play grounder from Wieters in the eighth after Trumbo singled with one out, and Aroldis Chapman recorded his 19th save with a fastball clocked at 105 mph.

Reimold walked with two outs in the ninth, but Flaherty broke his bat on a slow roller to second base.

Rodriguez continued to punish Gausman with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning. The shot to left field, his first since June 18, made him 6-for-12 with three homers lifetime against Gausman.

Brian McCann's sacrifice fly in the third broke the tie and completed the scoring.

The first three Yankees hits went for extras, including doubles by Carlos Beltran in the first inning and Starlin Castro in the second, but Gausman found his rhythm.

Just not a win.