BALTIMORE -- For much of the first half of the season, the Baltimore Orioles were selective and cautious with their use of rookie Kevin Gausman. Gary Trent Jr. Jersey . Now that things are getting serious, Gausman has become a fixture in a starting rotation that has thrust the Orioles into first place in the AL East. Gausman pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Adam Jones homered and the Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in nine games. From April through mid-July, Gausman bounced between Baltimore and the minor leagues to keep his innings-count down. Those restrictions are no longer in place, and the 2012 first-round draft pick looks rather comfortable being part of a pennant push. Gausman (5-3) retired the first 14 batters he faced and ended up allowing three runs and three walks in his first career start against the Angels. "I was just establishing my fastball in and out," he said. "I think they had a little bit of trouble with that, especially (when) I was getting some pitches down in the zone that I loved, which was great for me. I just felt in rhythm and in control and I was able to slow it down when I needed to and speed it up when I wanted to." Angels leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun said of Gausman: "He threw his pitches well. He obviously has electric stuff. Hes got some good off-speed pitches to complement the good fastball. He threw the ball well, he kept the ball down and they made some great plays behind him too." Darren ODay struck out two in a perfect eighth and Zach Britton gave up a single in the ninth before earning his 21st save. The victory lifted the AL East-leading Orioles to 14 games over .500 (60-46) for the first time July 22, 2013. "Weve been able to stay where we are because of the pitching," manager Buck Showalter said. Garrett Richards (11-4) gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings. It was his second straight defeat following a seven-game winning streak. Jones put the Orioles up 2-0 with a two-run homer, his second in two nights. It was his 21st of the season and 11th in the first inning. In the Baltimore fourth, David Lough picked up his first RBI since June 7 with a double and scored on a single by Ryan Flaherty. Gausman got some early help from his defence. Right fielder Nick Markakis made a sprawling catch in the third and third baseman Manny Machado snared a grounder down the line and staggered deep into foul territory before throwing out Albert Pujols in the fourth. The Angels first hit was a two-run single by Chris Iannetta in the fifth inning after Gausman walked the bases loaded. Calhoun followed with an RBI double. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Left-hander C.J. Wilson (right ankle sprain) threw in the Camden Yards bullpen and remains on course for a possible return from the 15-day DL this weekend. Orioles: First baseman Chris Davis missed a second straight game with a stomach virus. ... Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (right ankle sprain) will likely make his final rehabilitative start Sunday or Monday for Triple-A Norfolk. After his rehab start for Class A Aberdeen on Tuesday, he paid for a postgame spread of steak and lobster. ON DECK Angels: Left-hander Tyler Skaggs (5-5, 4.49 ERA) will make his first career start against the Orioles on Thursday night. Skaggs has not walked more than one batter in each of five starts since coming off the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Orioles: Bud Norris seeks to continue his mastery of the Angels. In three career starts against LA, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.46 ERA. NOT SO FAST C.J. Cron thought he had just taken ball four leading off the third inning. He flipped the bat toward the Los Angeles dugout and began jogging in the direction of first base. But it was only ball three. So, after umpire Kerwin Danley waved him back to the plate, Cron grounded out on a 3-2 pitch. Bill Walton Jersey . The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 19, and sits at 53-24 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action. Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys . Ferguson told Uniteds in-house TV channel on Saturday that he has no immediate plans to walk away from the game, and that he still hungers for more trophies even after 25 years in charge of the club.Toronto FC is holding a major news conference on Monday to unveil their newest player acquisitions for the 2014 MLS season, including England striker Jermain Defoe. You can watch full coverage live on TSN and TSN.ca right now. "Im excited (to arrive in Toronto); its been a long couple months," Defoe said on his arrival to Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Sunday. "I just wanted to get over here and see the city. Im looking forward to it; its a fantastic challenge and great opportunity. Im really excited, I feel like a little kid. "Its always a challenge when you go to a new club. Playing against different opposition is always going to be a challenge but thats what I play football for; Im going to enjoy it. Im delighted I made the decision to come. My family came (to Toronto) about a month ago. They had great feedback and said it was a fantastic city with fantastic people." Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, and Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko also added Gilberto from Brazil this winter. Gilberto joins midfielder Matias Laba as the clubs designated players. The club also brought back 355-year-old Toronto native Dwayne De Rosario last week. Damian Lillard Jersey. The former league MVP, who ranks sixth on the all-time MLS scoring list with 103 goals, returns home for his second stint with TFC. Defoe has scored 142 goals during two tours with Tottenham and is the clubs top scorer in European competitions. Defoe first joined the London club in February 2004 from West Ham United, making 177 appearances and scoring 64 goals before leaving to join Portsmouth in January 2008. The England international was re-signed a year later and has since made 185 appearances, scoring 78 goals. U.S. international midfielder Michael Bradley is the next piece of the puzzle to officially fall. AS Roma announced Thursday that it had sold the 26-year-old American to MLS for US$10 million. A source with knowledge of the league said Toronto was the lone MLS suitor. The 26-year-old Bradley played for the U.S. national team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has also played for MetroStars in the MLS as well as Heerenveen, Borussia Monchengladbach and Chievo Verona. Toronto opens its 2014 season Mar. 15 in Seattle. Defoe will miss almost all of Torontos pre-season games. ' ' '
BALTIMORE -- For much of the first half of the season, the Baltimore Orioles were selective and cautious with their use of rookie Kevin Gausman. Gary Trent Jr. Jersey . Now that things are getting serious, Gausman has become a fixture in a starting rotation that has thrust the Orioles into first place in the AL East. Gausman pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Adam Jones homered and the Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in nine games. From April through mid-July, Gausman bounced between Baltimore and the minor leagues to keep his innings-count down. Those restrictions are no longer in place, and the 2012 first-round draft pick looks rather comfortable being part of a pennant push. Gausman (5-3) retired the first 14 batters he faced and ended up allowing three runs and three walks in his first career start against the Angels. "I was just establishing my fastball in and out," he said. "I think they had a little bit of trouble with that, especially (when) I was getting some pitches down in the zone that I loved, which was great for me. I just felt in rhythm and in control and I was able to slow it down when I needed to and speed it up when I wanted to." Angels leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun said of Gausman: "He threw his pitches well. He obviously has electric stuff. Hes got some good off-speed pitches to complement the good fastball. He threw the ball well, he kept the ball down and they made some great plays behind him too." Darren ODay struck out two in a perfect eighth and Zach Britton gave up a single in the ninth before earning his 21st save. The victory lifted the AL East-leading Orioles to 14 games over .500 (60-46) for the first time July 22, 2013. "Weve been able to stay where we are because of the pitching," manager Buck Showalter said. Garrett Richards (11-4) gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings. It was his second straight defeat following a seven-game winning streak. Jones put the Orioles up 2-0 with a two-run homer, his second in two nights. It was his 21st of the season and 11th in the first inning. In the Baltimore fourth, David Lough picked up his first RBI since June 7 with a double and scored on a single by Ryan Flaherty. Gausman got some early help from his defence. Right fielder Nick Markakis made a sprawling catch in the third and third baseman Manny Machado snared a grounder down the line and staggered deep into foul territory before throwing out Albert Pujols in the fourth. The Angels first hit was a two-run single by Chris Iannetta in the fifth inning after Gausman walked the bases loaded. Calhoun followed with an RBI double. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Left-hander C.J. Wilson (right ankle sprain) threw in the Camden Yards bullpen and remains on course for a possible return from the 15-day DL this weekend. Orioles: First baseman Chris Davis missed a second straight game with a stomach virus. ... Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (right ankle sprain) will likely make his final rehabilitative start Sunday or Monday for Triple-A Norfolk. After his rehab start for Class A Aberdeen on Tuesday, he paid for a postgame spread of steak and lobster. ON DECK Angels: Left-hander Tyler Skaggs (5-5, 4.49 ERA) will make his first career start against the Orioles on Thursday night. Skaggs has not walked more than one batter in each of five starts since coming off the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Orioles: Bud Norris seeks to continue his mastery of the Angels. In three career starts against LA, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.46 ERA. NOT SO FAST C.J. Cron thought he had just taken ball four leading off the third inning. He flipped the bat toward the Los Angeles dugout and began jogging in the direction of first base. But it was only ball three. So, after umpire Kerwin Danley waved him back to the plate, Cron grounded out on a 3-2 pitch. Bill Walton Jersey . The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 19, and sits at 53-24 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action. Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys . Ferguson told Uniteds in-house TV channel on Saturday that he has no immediate plans to walk away from the game, and that he still hungers for more trophies even after 25 years in charge of the club.Toronto FC is holding a major news conference on Monday to unveil their newest player acquisitions for the 2014 MLS season, including England striker Jermain Defoe. You can watch full coverage live on TSN and TSN.ca right now. "Im excited (to arrive in Toronto); its been a long couple months," Defoe said on his arrival to Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Sunday. "I just wanted to get over here and see the city. Im looking forward to it; its a fantastic challenge and great opportunity. Im really excited, I feel like a little kid. "Its always a challenge when you go to a new club. Playing against different opposition is always going to be a challenge but thats what I play football for; Im going to enjoy it. Im delighted I made the decision to come. My family came (to Toronto) about a month ago. They had great feedback and said it was a fantastic city with fantastic people." Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, and Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko also added Gilberto from Brazil this winter. Gilberto joins midfielder Matias Laba as the clubs designated players. The club also brought back 355-year-old Toronto native Dwayne De Rosario last week. Damian Lillard Jersey. The former league MVP, who ranks sixth on the all-time MLS scoring list with 103 goals, returns home for his second stint with TFC. Defoe has scored 142 goals during two tours with Tottenham and is the clubs top scorer in European competitions. Defoe first joined the London club in February 2004 from West Ham United, making 177 appearances and scoring 64 goals before leaving to join Portsmouth in January 2008. The England international was re-signed a year later and has since made 185 appearances, scoring 78 goals. U.S. international midfielder Michael Bradley is the next piece of the puzzle to officially fall. AS Roma announced Thursday that it had sold the 26-year-old American to MLS for US$10 million. A source with knowledge of the league said Toronto was the lone MLS suitor. The 26-year-old Bradley played for the U.S. national team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has also played for MetroStars in the MLS as well as Heerenveen, Borussia Monchengladbach and Chievo Verona. Toronto opens its 2014 season Mar. 15 in Seattle. Defoe will miss almost all of Torontos pre-season games. ' ' '