FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman struggled early but settled in his second inning of work Thursday, striking out major leaguers Chris Parmelee and Trevor Plouffe on a pair of 96 mph fastballs in his second career spring appearance.
Gausman, whose fastball was steadily from 93-96 mph and topped at 97, allowed three hits in his first inning of work in the fourth, including a pair of back-to-back, two-out singles to Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham.
Mauer's single, which fell just in front of a diving Trayvon Robinson in left, plated Darin Mastroianni, who reached on a one-out double off Gausman.
Gausman, the Orioles' first-round pick in 2012 (No. 4 overall), allowed a run in on one hit and two walks in 1 2/3 innings in his spring debut on Sunday in Dunedin. That outing came later in the game against Blue Jays reserves.
He now has four strikeouts in four spring innings.
