Gausman, Pearce pick up O's against Yanks
NEW YORK -- Kevin Gausman cooled off a red-hot Yankees lineup to pick up his first road victory of the season, Mark Trumbo hit his Major League-leading 40th home run and Steve Pearce also homered as part of a three-RBI performance as the Orioles defeated the Yankees, 5-0, on Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
Gausman walked none and struck out eight over seven innings, scattering seven hits as the O's salvaged the finale of a three-game series. The right-hander's effort silenced a Yankees club that thumped O's pitching for 27 runs in the first two games of the series.
"I think his command of his pitches was excellent," Trumbo said. "I think because he was ahead of so many hitters, he was able to put a lot of them away. It seemed like they were on their toes a little bit."
Pearce connected off New York starter CC Sabathia for a solo home run in the sixth inning, his 12th long ball, then greeted reliever Adam Warren with a two-out, two-run single to center field in the seventh. Sabathia was credited with a quality start, permitting three runs and six hits while also striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings.
"I was just trying to keep us in the game," Sabathia said. "Their guy was pitching good, so I was just trying to get us back in the dugout. It's just how it's been going, soft contact. I made the pitches, but I just didn't get the results."
Trumbo's two-run shot came in the eighth inning off Ben Heller as New York fell 3 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the second American League Wild Card spot.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Pearce's power: This is why the Orioles traded for Pearce. The right-handed hitter homered off Sabathia and helped the O's push another pair of runs across in the seventh. It was big for a Baltimore team that entered the day with the worst splits in the AL against left-handers.
Pearce, who has been battling an elbow injury, came out of the game early for precautionary reasons.
"You know, CC had some good stuff out there today and some late break on some stuff. I just took a couple of hard [check swings] back to back and kind of aggravated it," Pearce said. "I told [manager Buck Showalter] I was still able to go out there, but he made it very clear that we were going to try and get out in front of this thing and not let it flare up again like it did last time."
Starlin's glove story: Sabathia had two outs and a runner at first in the seventh inning when Nolan Reimold dribbled a slow, spinning grounder to second baseman Starlin Castro. Perhaps distracted by the baserunner Jonathan Schoop, Castro was unable to make the play on what went for an infield single. Yankees manager Joe Girardi briefly came out of the dugout to discuss possible interference, but the play was not reviewed. Sabathia walked the next batter, Hyun Soo Kim, prompting the Yanks to call upon Warren.
"When I saw the ball hit, I took the only chance that I got," Castro said. "I just tried to attack the ball and it happened that the runner was there. The way it spun, I thought, 'I have to keep it in front of me,' but when it hit the dirt, the ball moved away. When I see the ball, the first thing I think in my mind is just to go get it. If I stay back, [Reimold] can be safe at first."
Gausman conquers his road woes: After two tough games to the open series for Baltimore's entire pitching staff, Gausman stepped up when his team needed it most. The righty went seven innings, holding the Yankees scoreless and picking up his first road win in 14 starts (1-9) in the process.
"I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes, and for chase, when I wanted to," Gausman said. "I feel like when I can do that, it's going to be a lot easier for me to get quality starts and go deep into the game."
Bats all? After collecting 18 hits in each of the last two games, the Yankees' offense was iced as it went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, leaving six men on. Sizzling rookie Gary Sanchez contributed another two hits, but his aggressiveness on the basepaths hurt the Yanks as he was thrown out at third base for the first out of the fourth inning, attempting to go first-to-third on Mark Teixeira's single to right field.
"I think he was reading the third baseman and he took a gamble that he wasn't going to get back there," Girardi said. "It took a really good throw [by Pearce] and a really good play by [Manny Machado]. I don't have a problem with it. It's an aggressive play, we've been playing aggressive. That time, it caught up to us, but I think the thought process was pretty good because of the shift and what it took to get him."
HE'S BACK
Signed to a Major League contract before the game, Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
"It felt pretty good," Hunter said. "I think familiar faces and just it's pretty much the same group of guys. They make you feel comfortable when you leave and just as welcoming coming back."
QUOTABLE
"He's a stud. You would like to see it every single time, but baseball doesn't really turn out that way, but he's a very talented young man. He did a fabulous job. He did what he's supposed to do. He's got more talent than I've seen in a long time. For him to go out there and do that and step up on the day game after two losses, that's what you're supposed to get from a guy like him." -- Hunter, on Gausman
ORIOLES INJURY UPDATES
Chris Tillman (right shoulder) will have his first test pushed up from Tuesday to Monday, which is a good sign for the O's Opening Day starter.
WHAT'S NEXT
Orioles: Baltimore will return home to take on first-place Toronto in a three-game series. Wade Miley will get the ball first at 7:05 p.m. ET on Monday. A non-waiver Trade Deadline pickup, Miley picked up his first win with Baltimore in his last outing. He held the Nationals to two runs over five innings.
Yankees: Michael Pineda (6-10, 5.02) heads to the mound on Monday as the Yankees open a three-game series with the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. Pineda took a no-decision in his last start, allowing five runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings to the Mariners.
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Bryan Hoch has covered the Yankees for MLB.com since 2007. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch, on Facebook and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat.
Brittany Ghiroli has covered the Orioles for MLB.com since 2010. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, follow her on Facebook and Twitter @britt_ghiroli, and listen to her podcast.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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