masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Kevin Gausman couldn’t build on his impressive outing in Fort Myers.

Gausman was charged with two runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in his first start of the spring. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out two.

Manager Buck Showalter took the ball from Gausman after Evan Longoria’s RBI double with two outs in the third inning broke a scoreless tie. Former Oriole Luke Scott greeted Mike Belfiore with a long two-run homer to right-center field, tagging…SARASOTA, Fla. – Kevin Gausman couldn’t build on his impressive outing in Fort Myers.

Gausman was charged with two runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in his first start of the spring. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out two.

Manager Buck Showalter took the ball from Gausman after Evan Longoria’s RBI double with two outs in the third inning broke a scoreless tie. Former Oriole Luke Scott greeted Mike Belfiore with a long two-run homer to right-center field, tagging Gausman with another run.

Gausman walked the first two batters he faced and threw only 34 of his 57 pitches for strikes today. His fastball, which topped out a 98 mph against the Boston Red Sox in his last outing and frequently hit 97, was mostly 91-92 today. He topped out at 96 once to end the first inning.

Gausman escaped trouble in the first by getting two fielder’s choice grounders sandwiched around a strikeout of Scott. Matt Joyce reached on an infield hit leading off the second, but James Loney bounced into a double play and Ryan Roberts grounded to third.

Jose Lobaton struck out and Desmond Jennings popped up to open the third, but Kelly Johnson walked and raced home on Longoria’s double to left-center field.

Belfiore threw one pitch to Scott, and Gausman’s final line was complete.

The Red Sox also had two hits against Gausman on Saturday, but they didn’t score and didn’t draw a walk over three innings.

Dylan Bundy will get into this game, but Belfiore is back on the mound for the top of the fourth with the Orioles trailing 3-0.

Wilson Betemit and Jason Pridie have the only hits for the Orioles, both infield singles in the second inning. Betemit is now 2-for-18 this spring.

Update: Jim Johnson retired three straight batters in the fifth after Jennings reached on an infield hit, with Wilson Betemit making a diving stop along the line but having no play.

Darren O’Day is warming and will pitch the sixth. We’re still waiting on Dylan Bundy.

Conor Jackson and Nolan Reimold have singled today, giving the Orioles four hits.