Baltimore Orioles 0, Tampa Bay Rays 8: Gausman got rocked, offense got quiet

So, today's baseball game. What to say about it? I mean, other than: "It made me want to vomit."

Kevin Gausman made his fourth major league start, and for those of us hoping that he'd build on his strong start against Detroit last week, that didn't happen. He made it into the fifth inning today but that it was an ugly ride that ended with a train wreck (although Gausman had a little help from fellow rookie T.J. McFarland in that department).

The Rays got on the board right away when Evan Longoria knocked in Ben Zobrist, who had doubled. They scored two more in the second inning when Gausman was singled to death. It took him nearly fifty pitches to get through the first two. He settled down for the next two innings, but in the fifth inning things went awry.

Zobrist doubled again, this time leading off the inning. Gausman got one out but then walked Evan Longoria, which brought inexplicably good James Loney to the plate. Loney singled in the Rays' fourth run of the game. Gausman issued another walk to load the bases, and the day was done. Unfortunately, his pitching line wasn't out of the woods yet.

T.J. McFarland replaced Gausman with the lefty Luke Scott coming up. It didn't go well. Scott tripled to right field, clearing the bases. Then, for good measure, Jose Lobaton doubled to knock in Scott. That made the score 8-0 and, mercifully, the Rays didn't score any more in the game.

Just as disappointing as the pitching today was the offense. Jeremy Hellickson held the O's to to just four hits over six innings, then three relief pitchers combined to throw three perfect innings to end the game. Each of the four hits they got in the game was single and they didn't take any walks.

The Orioles have now lost five in a row to the Rays and need to beat Matt Moore tomorrow if they hope to avoid the sweep and a losing road trip.