masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIn a big game, Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman delivered a huge performance. It was absolutely ace-like in every way.
Gausman pitched eight brilliant innings against baseball’s highest-scoring team as the Orioles beat Boston 1-0 at Fenway Park. The Orioles (80-65) moved to within one game of the first-place Red Sox by taking the final two games of the series after losing by 10 runs on Monday.
The game meant the difference between the Orioles getting to one back or falling three games back…

In a big game, Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman delivered a huge performance. It was absolutely ace-like in every way.

Gausman pitched eight brilliant innings against baseball’s highest-scoring team as the Orioles beat Boston 1-0 at Fenway Park. The Orioles (80-65) moved to within one game of the first-place Red Sox by taking the final two games of the series after losing by 10 runs on Monday.

The game meant the difference between the Orioles getting to one back or falling three games back with 17 to play. And, by the way, Gausman was facing the only 20-game winner in the majors, who also brought his A-game.

He outpitched Rick Porcello by just enough tonight. Porcello allowed a solo homer to Mark Trumbo in the second for the game’s only run. It was the major league-leading 42nd for Trumbo.

Gausman was so good he didn’t allow a runner to reach second base until the seventh inning when Hanley Ramirez reached on an infield hit and went to third on Chris Young’s bloop to center. Would two soft hits end Gausmasn’s shutout bid? Nope. He fanned Sandy Leon on three pitches. Leon swung and missed at 95 mph heat, fouled off a heater at 97 mph and missed an 85 mph changeup that tumbled down in the zone. It was an impressive display of clutch pitching.

Gausman retired the side in order 1-2-3 in the eighth. His last batter, as it turned out, was Xander Bogaerts, who fouled out on a 99 mph fastball.

Gausman gave up four hits over eight innings with one walk and six strikeouts. He threw a career-high 120 pitches and improves to 8-10 with an ERA of 3.43. Gausman delivered this gem tonight against a Boston team that had scored 82 runs (5.9 per game) in 14 games this year versus O’s pitching.

Over his last five starts, Gausman has yielded just three runs in 33 innings for an ERA of 0.82. He has four scoreless starts in those five games. Since the All-Star break, he is 7-4 with a 2.58 ERA.

Remember when Gausman struggled to get wins? Now he has been the winning pitcher in five of his last six starts. Zach Britton got the last three outs to finish the shutout. He pitched a 1-2-3 frame for his 43rd save.

The Orioles come home, riding high off a 6-3 road trip, to host Tampa Bay on Thursday to start a big 11-game homestand. The final 17 games are here. The Orioles are making a run for another American League East title. Gausman tonight made sure they stayed close to the top spot in the division with a fantastic outing.