Gausman wins duel with Hamels as Rangers lose to Orioles
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Kevin Gausman outpitched Cole Hamels, and the Baltimore Orioles rode a three-run first inning to a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Matt Wieters had two RBIs for the AL East-leading Orioles, whose 39-16 record at home is the best in the majors. Baltimore will seek to complete a three-game sweep on Thursday in a series between first-place teams.
Gausman (3-8) gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. The right-hander had won only two of his 18 starts this season and was coming off a horrid outing in which he allowed three homers and six runs over three innings at Toronto.
Darren O'Day worked a perfect eighth and Zach Britton finished for his 33rd save in 33 tries.
Hamels (12-3) yielded three runs and three hits in a rocky first inning, then retired 13 of the next 14 batters without allowing a hit. The lefty gave up three runs, four hits and four walks over seven innings.
He was 7-1 in his previous 11 starts and 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA since the All-Star break.
Carlos Beltran homered in his second game with Texas since being obtained in a trade with the Yankees on Monday. New catcher Jonathan Lucroy also picked up his first RBI with the Rangers, and closer Jeremy Jeffress -- obtained in the trade with Milwaukee that landed Lucroy -- spent the night in the Texas bullpen after arriving earlier in the day.
After Beltran hit his 23rd homer in the first inning, Baltimore took the lead for good in the bottom half. Mark Trumbo hit an RBI groundout and Wieters added a two-run single for a 3-1 lead.
Lucroy delivered an RBI single in the second to get Texas within a run.
That was the extent of the Rangers' offense against Gausman, who -- like the Orioles -- seems to perform better at home. The right-hander is 0-7 on the road but has won his last three starts at Camden Yards.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo (lower back inflammation) hopes to be activated from the DL on Thursday. "Everything feels like normal," he said. "I feel like I can help this team."
Orioles: Rookie OF Joey Rickard (thumb) won't be available before September. "I think we'll get him back sometime this year," manager Buck Showalter said. "It's just a matter of how quickly."
UP NEXT
Rangers: A.J. Griffin (4-1, 3.99 ERA) faces the Orioles for the first time since 2013 in the series finale Thursday night. Texas is 9-4 in his 13 starts.
Orioles: Wade Miley (7-8, 4.98) makes his debut with the Orioles. Obtained on Sunday in a trade with Seattle, the 29-year-old is the lone lefty in the Baltimore rotation.
