In his second start since being sidelined by right shoulder tendinitis, right-hander Kevin Gausman struck out four batters and surrendered a pair of long home runs but reported no issues with his shoulder after a 61-pitch outing for Double-A Bowie.
"I think, physically, I felt really good," Gausman said. "I felt like the ball was coming out really well. I thought I commanded the ball on the inside part of the plate to right-handed hitters, which is good. [I] had a little trouble going in on lefties but threw some good pitches in there for strikeouts when I needed to."
The 24-year-old former first-round draft pick was pulled in the fourth inning after the second home run, having hit his 60-pitch limit. While there were no physical problems, he said it was hard leaving manager Gary Kendall in a hole. Bowie trailed the Binghamton Mets 4-0 when he left the game, ultimately losing, 6-0.
Kendall "is the type where he'll tell you when you [stink]," Gausman said. "Luckily, he didn't tell me, but I already know that I didn't pitch very well tonight."
Gausman struck out two in a 1-2-3 first inning, pumping his fastball as fast as 97 mph and getting swinging strikeouts on his curveball and changeup. His other two strikeouts were fastballs at the knees that froze designated hitter Brock Peterson to lead off the second and catcher Albert Cordero to lead off the third.
The damage, however, also came on fastballs. In the second inning, first baseman Aderlin Rodriguez blasted a first-pitch fastball to right field. After a pair of fourth-inning singles put runners on first and second with one out, Josh Rodriguez turned on a 94-mph fastball for a three-run homer.
"The two homers were pretty center-cut fastballs in fastball counts," Gausman said. "I've just got to be better at commanding."
Otherwise, Gausman has used his rehabilitation assignment, which began Friday for High-A Frederick at Wilmington, to work on his curveball, a pitch he introduced this season.
"I think I threw it probably six times, but I feel good with it," Gausman said. "I feel comfortable with it. There's a couple that kind of got away from me, but I think that was more mechanical than anything. I feel confident in it and I know I can throw that 0-2 breaking ball whenever I want. It's more of that for-a-strike breaking ball."
Gausman said he will meet with Orioles manager Buck Showalter on Friday at Camden Yards to determine the next step in his return. He said he doesn't believe he's in the mix to start Sunday against the New York Yankees in place of right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who went on the disabled list Thursday with a groin injury.