Ranger Suarez silences Orioles as Gasper's power surge carries Red Sox to 1-0 win

A few days ago, cracks were beginning to show in a Red Sox rotation that has spent much of the summer trying to survive an endless string of injuries.

Two nights in Baltimore have provided a much-needed response.

After Jake Bennett settled things down Thursday, Ranger Suarez looked like his first-half All-Star self Friday, tossing seven scoreless innings as the Red Sox edged the Orioles, 1-0, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Mickey Gasper provided the only run with yet another home run, while Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman finished off Boston’s second straight win to begin the four-game series.

For Suarez, the performance came at an important time as the left-hander entered Friday with a 5.01 ERA over his previous seven starts and had struggled to regain his form since suffering a left groin strain July 5. With the postseason approaching, the Red Sox need the pitcher who earned an All-Star selection during the first half.

On Friday night, Suarez scattered five hits and one walk while striking out three over seven scoreless innings. He threw 61 of 91 pitches for strikes and completed seven innings for the first time since tossing eight against the Tigers at Fenway Park on April 17.

“I can’t say enough,” Chad Tracy said. “We needed that as a team but also for him, that was a good one.”

Gasper supplied Boston’s entire offense three batters into the game after the 29-year-old jumped on a 93.9 mph fastball Shane Baz left over the middle of the plate and drove it 375 feet to right field, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

“That was special. He picked us up,” Gasper told NESN’s Jahmai Webster postgame. “It wasn’t our best night offensively just in terms of finishing an inning and getting some runs, and Ranger went out there and pitched incredible.”

A 27th-round pick out of Bryant University in 2018, Gasper spent six seasons in the minors before reaching the majors. He was designated for assignment by the Twins and Nationals during a 14-day span in January.

Now he’s batting second for the Red Sox in September and has hit eight home runs in his last 16 games.