masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgKevin Gausman will make his second start for the Orioles tonight while attempting to apply the brakes to a two-game skid. Left-hander Tim Berry will be optioned unless the plan changed overnight.
Gausman has never faced the Athletics or pitched against the American League West. May as well do it now. Everybody into the pool.
Judging by the reaction of fans, the Orioles lost last night because:
1. Nelson Cruz tried to steal home 2. Bobby Dickerson sent Nick Markakis 3. J.J. Hardy committed…

Kevin Gausman will make his second start for the Orioles tonight while attempting to apply the brakes to a two-game skid. Left-hander Tim Berry will be optioned unless the plan changed overnight.

Gausman has never faced the Athletics or pitched against the American League West. May as well do it now. Everybody into the pool.

Judging by the reaction of fans, the Orioles lost last night because:

1. Nelson Cruz tried to steal home
2. Bobby Dickerson sent Nick Markakis
3. J.J. Hardy committed another error
4. Buck Showalter (He pretty much wears it after every loss)
5. Chris Davis didn’t bunt
6. Chris Davis got thrown out at second base
7. The media never asks the right questions

The Orioles were 22-3 when leading after seven innings until Oakland scored the tying run off Darren O’Day in the eighth and went ahead in the 11th against Evan Meek.

It was a game the Orioles felt they should have won.

“I mean, it was all there. It was all there,” said third baseman Manny Machado. “We had it from the get-go. Tough loss, tough loss.

“Things weren’t falling into place for us and that’s just part of the game. That’s how things happen and you’ve just got to forget about it and come back tomorrow and get a win.”

“Any loss is tough,” Cruz said. “I thought we had a chance there. All we can do is come back (tonight) and try to win a game.”

The loss overshadowed a quality start by Wei-Yin Chen, who retired 14 of the last 16 batters he faced. He served up two home runs in the first two innings before finding his rhythm.

“At the start of the game, I wasn’t really getting a good feel on all of my pitches and I couldn’t think about my game plan, but after those two home runs I settled down there and thought about how to go after the hitters,” Chen said through his interpreter.

“I was content by my performance overall, because I was able to get through more innings with fewer pitches, but sadly we couldn’t win the ballgame, so in the future we will try to play as hard as possible to win every game.”

Josh Donaldson and Derek Norris homered off Chen.

“This is baseball,” Chen said. “Sometimes in the game you make mistakes and the opponent makes you pay, so this is what you have to take when you make mistakes. This is baseball, so all I can do is try to not make any mistakes in the future.”

Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 11 games by going 2-for-5. He’s batting .375 (18-for-48) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, six walks and eight runs scored.

Steve Pearce was 0-for-10 before singling in the second inning. He also singled in the sixth for his fourth multi-hit game of the season.

Machado is 10-for-25 (.400) in the last six games, with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs.

Bud Norris is still expected to make Monday night’s start against the Red Sox. His right forearm is fine.

I’ll be arriving at Camden Yards earlier than usual for a night game. The Orioles are holding a memorial service at 11 a.m. for public relations director Monica Barlow.

Showalter, Davis, O’Day and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells will speak. I’m told that Andy MacPhail also will be there.

I’ve been asked to say a few words, along with The Sun’s Dan Connolly. We’re honored to be a part of it.

It’s going to be a celebration of Monica’s life. There should be equal amounts of laughter and tears.

She would prefer the laughs. Every single time.