Alvarez living up to BP billing, Gausman goes five innings (O's lose 2-0)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter sat in the dugout during batting practice today and interrupted his own thought to marvel at a ball launched by slumping slugger Pedro Alvarez. He was scrambling for the right words, as if it were one of those "you had to be there" moments.

Reporters had their backs turned to the field, but Showalter said the ball hit just below the scoreboard in center field. Upon further inspection, it's still perched in its landing spot.

Showalter theorized that Alvarez's batting practice session would carry over to the game and jokingly praised himself for including the former Pirate in tonight's lineup.

Alvarez didn't disappoint, stroking doubles to left and right field in his first two at-bats after going 4-for-37 in his first 12 games with the Orioles. He had one double, one RBI, eight walks and nine strikeouts.

Showalter sat Alvarez twice against right-handers, but returned him to the lineup tonight against Tampa Bay's Chris Archer. Alvarez lined a double to left field in the third inning and came within inches of a home run to right field in the fifth. He barely slid in ahead of the throw and managed to keep his foot on the bag.

Alvarez's doubles were among the three hits allowed by Archer through five innings. Neither team scored until the bottom half of the inning, when Kevin Gausman finally ran into trouble and couldn't get away unscathed.

Making his 2016 debut, Gausman held the Rays to one hit through the fourth, walked none and struck out six batters. He threw 59 pitches and seemed to have plenty left in the tank.

The Rays worked him for 32 pitches in the fifth, scored once on No. 9 hitter Curt Casali's RBI double with two outs and loaded the bases before Evan Longoria flied to right field.

Steven Souza Jr. walked with one out and was running on the pitch when Casali doubled to left field. Gausman hit Logan Forsythe and walked former Oriole Steve Pearce, and left-hander Brian Matusz began to warm.

Matusz replaced Gausman to start the bottom of the sixth. Gausman allowed one run and three hits in five innings, with two walks, seven strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes.

Gausman's fastball was clocked at 100 mph multiple times on the Tropicana Field radar gun. He used it to strike out catcher Casali in the third inning.

Gausman struck out the side in the third, getting Kevin Kiermaier on a 98 mph fastball and Forsythe on a 97 mph heater. He fed Longoria a steady diet of sliders and used the pitch to strike him out first and fourth innings.

The heat was on from the outset. Gausman's fastball was clocked at 99 mph while he retired Forsythe on a ground ball to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Pearce popped up a 96 mph fastball. Desmond Jennings popped up a 100 mph fastball in the second.

Corey Dickerson swung through a 98 mph fastball for the second out in the fourth inning. Jennings grounded out to strand Pearce, who led off with a single and also saw a 100 mph heater during his at-bat.

Pitch count wasn't an early issue for Gausman. He threw 10 in the first, 16 in the second, 14 in the third and 19 in the fourth.

Adam Jones singled with two outs in the sixth, but Archer struck out Chris Davis for the third time. Archer has fanned nine and continues to hold a 1-0 lead.

Update: Matusz loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth on a single and two walks, and Vance Worley hit Casali to force in a run and give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead.

The ball grazed Casali's jersey. He's driven in both runs tonight after entering the game with a .139 average and three RBIs.

Update II: The Orioles lose to the Rays 2-0 before 12,996 at The Trop.

Vance Worley gave the Orioles 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Speaking of scoreless, the Orioles haven't pushed across a run in their last 17 innings. They're 11-7 going into Wednesday night's game.