Brach induces eighth-inning out to keep O's on track

ST. PETERSBURG -- Brad Brach got one of the biggest outs in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Rays and picked up his first save of the season in the process.

After starter Miguel Gonzalez issued a two-out eighth-inning walk to put runners on first and second, manager Buck Showalter brought on Brach to face Steven Souza Jr. The righty retired him on a full-count popup behind the plate and retired the following three batters in the ninth.

"It's a game of inches. It is. I say it all the time. A ball hits a catwalk by a foot last night. A foot or two more is in the stands, and who knows what happens?" Showalter said. "But Brad was a big part of what we did last year, and he's starting to get back in sync a little bit."

Brach has allowed just one earned run in his past six outings, which span eight innings.

"He had some life on that ball. He's got such a devastating changeup," catcher Caleb Joseph said. "That pitch has really come around for him. He's got a lot of deception, and he came in and did a good job filling in for Miggy and then closing it out in the ninth. He got a big out there with Souza. He's done a great job for us since we got here, and we are going to count on him."