Wild fifth inning proves costly for Gausman

BALTIMORE -- The post-Manny Machado Era made its way to Camden Yards on Monday night. And if Monday's reports were any indication, the Orioles could soon find themselves without closer Zach Britton as non-waiver Trade Deadline talk continued to dominate the on-field play.
And that's fortunate for the O's, who were held scoreless until the eighth inning and watched starter Kevin Gausman become unhinged in the fifth in the series-opening 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. Boston, one of more than a half dozen teams interested in Britton, didn't get to see the lefty on Monday night. But that may be for the best for manager Buck Showalter -- who hasn't used Britton the past two games -- as he juggles managing in-game decisions with the team's rebuild that kicked off with the trade of Machado to Los Angeles on Thursday.

The defeat, which featured two separate rain delays of 42 and 19 minutes, is the O's fourth in a row as Baltimore (28-73) is still seeking its first second-half win.
• Astros, Cubs, Yanks trying to acquire Britton
"You just know the presence that's been there. Throw out how good a player he is, that part of it. Our guys, it's like something you know more than likely is coming, but when it actually happens, there's still a different feeling somewhat," Showalter said of Machado's absence.
"And we're still dealing with that with some other guys [like Britton]. But quite frankly, it's kind of self-inflicted. There was a way that Manny could still be here. We try to keep that mind, knowing that it's part of it even though it hasn't been the case here for a while. It's kind of the fallout from not playing well."

The typically low-key Gausman, who showed some rage in the dugout after he got the hook, issued three consecutive one-out, fifth-inning walks, including an RBI free pass to Jackie Bradley Jr. After striking out Mookie Betts, Gausman's outing came to an end after he surrendered a two-run ground-rule double to Andrew Benintendi to make it 4-0.

Orioles righty Miguel Castro allowed one inherited runner to score, but he stopped the bleeding by tossing three scoreless innings.
"Nothing against those guys, but they're not the top of their lineup," said Gausman, who surrendered a solo homer to Mitch Moreland in the second. "Those are kind of, especially in a lineup like theirs, those are your outs that you have to get. As a pitcher who does really well against lefties, to walk three in a row, it's pretty frustrating."

The Orioles' offense was held scoreless over Rick Porcello's six innings as the righty scattered six hits and a walk. The O's went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left six on base before Jonathan Schoop sent Brandon Workman's first-pitch cutter into the left-field seats for a two-run blast in the eighth.
"Boston's a good team. We know we're a good team, but things didn't go our way," Schoop said. "We've got to find a way. I think Porcello was really good today. I think Gausman was pretty good, too. He got one inning that didn't go his way."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Walks as good as a hit: Gausman was cruising until the fifth. Or, more specifically, until Rafael Devers. The O's starter lost the strike zone, walking Devers and Sandy Leon to prompt a mound visit. But it was no use, as Gausman walked in a run with Bradley to set the tone in the game-changing inning.
HE SAID IT
"He told them to give me his locker. That's why I'm here. It's different, but I'm trying to pass through it. It's hard. It's hard without him. But like I said, I've got to find a way to ignore [it] and compete and help my team win. And he's got to do the same thing -- help his team win over there." -- Schoop, on losing best buddy Machado
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
In the eighth inning, Timothy Beckham was originally ruled out on a close play at first base, but following a quick review, the call was overturned and Beckham was credited with an infield single. The call was key as the next batter, Schoop, launched a two-run home run.

UP NEXT
Yefry Ramirez will try for his first Major League win in his fifth start with the Orioles on Tuesday night. He's allowed just eight earned runs in 23 1/3 innings, but he has yet to pitch into the sixth inning this year. Ramirez will be opposed by Red Sox lefty Thomas Pomeranz in the 7:05 p.m. ET matchup at Camden Yards.