The Sports Xchange
Jul 29, 2017
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman wanted no part of Adrian Beltre's bid for 3,000 hits as he pitched 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball in a 4-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
Gausman (8-7), who allowed one run in six innings in a July 19 start against Texas, scattered seven singles in helping the Orioles snap a three-game losing streak. Zach Britton retired Carlos Gomez to end the game for his seventh save and complete the sixth shutout for the Orioles.
One of the singles came from Beltre, who collected career hit No. 2,999 in the fourth inning. But Beltre went 1-for-4 and missed out on his first two chances at becoming the 31st player with 3,000 career hits.
Baltimore jumped on Texas starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx (3-1) for two runs in the second inning on solo homers from Trey Mancini and Caleb Joseph.
Two snnings later, the Orioles doubled the lead to 4-0 on a fielder's choice grounder from Mancini and a single to right by Seth Smith.
That was plenty of cushion for Gausman. Texas was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position against Gausman, who struck out eight and walked three. He retired 10 straight batters before walking Nomar Mazara to lead off the ninth. His chance at his first complete game ended with Rougned Odor's two-out blooper in the ninth.
Texas' best chance at scoring came when Joey Gallo led off the third with a deep fly ball to center. But Adam Jones made a leaping catch over the wall to rob Gallo of a homer.
Bibens-Dirkx, who was making his first start since June 30, allowed four runs and six hits in five innings.
The Orioles had six hits, with all six coming from different players and all six coming in the first four innings. Mancini collected two RBIs. First baseman Chris Davis walked three times and was hit by a pitch.
Shin-Soo Choo had two hits for Texas and also drew a walk.
NOTES: Texas 3B Adrian Beltre made a throwing error in the seventh inning, snapping a 62-game errorless streak for him. That was the club record for a Texas third baseman. ... Baltimore RHP Jeremy Hellickson, who was acquired in a trade from Philadelphia Friday, will not join the team until Monday. He was involved in a car accident going to the airport. ... More than 8,000 tickets for Saturday's game were sold after Friday's game in anticipation of Beltre reaching 3,000 hits.