By Eduardo A. Encina The Baltimore Sun Baltimore Sun

5:30 p.m. AKDT, September 7, 2012

Making just the sixth professional start of his career, Orioles first-round draft pick Kevin Gausman was thrown into the middle of a playoff series on Friday night.

Gausman, the No. 4 overall pick in this June’s first-year player draft out of LSU, made his debut for Double-A Bowie, starting Game 3 of the Eastern League semifinals for the Baysox.

The 21-year-old right-hander recorded his best start as a pro, throwing three shutout innings against the Akron Areos, allowing just two hits and striking out a career-high five and walking none. Thirty-one of Gausman’s 43 pitches were strikes.

Gausman has pitched to a 3.00 ERA in six starts at three different minor league levels, allowing 13 hits, 6 earned runs with 18 strikeouts and one walk.