Gausman's Strong Debut
Kevin Gausman, traded to the Chicago Cubs from the Toronto Blue Jays, made a strong first start with his new team. He pitched seven innings and led the Cubs to a 6-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Gausman allowed two runs on four hits and walked one while striking out four. The two-time All-Star struggled with the Blue Jays recently but showed signs of turning his season around before the trade. In his last start with Toronto, he allowed just one run while pitching into the sixth against St. Louis, a performance that suggested he might be ready for a resurgence.
Gausman had an early stumble, walking Carter Jensen and allowing a run in the first inning. But the right-hander settled in, retiring 19 of the final 21 batters he faced, allowing just a solo home run by Jensen in the fifth, which made it a close game until the end.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Gausman picked up his rhythm quickly. He improved inning by inning. 'You could see he got a little better in the second, got a little better in the third, and then it was kind of on cruise control,' he said. 'Just a bunch of good pitches that he was kind of feeling with each pitch.' Gausman admitted his outing did not begin the way he wanted, walking the leadoff man and giving up two hits and a run in a shaky first inning. He said it took him a little time to get going, as he was too quick and too amped up to pitch great the first few batters of the game. 'I kind of got to let the game come to you,' he said. 'It took me kind of getting hit in the ankle to wake up a little bit, but we got through it, and me and Carson got on the same page.'
Gausman's Resilience
The only real concern came when Salvador Perez hit a liner off Gausman's ankle in the first inning. Gausman, however, said the injury didn't affect his movement and he played it off with humor. 'Hit me like, half on my shoe.' He added he would put some tape on it, put some ice on it the next few days, and said, 'I'll be all right.'
Gausman, who had a 5.17 ERA in his last seven starts with the Blue Jays, said he was just focused on getting outs. He also said he was enjoying the moment. 'It’s been a lot,' he said. 'My daughter had a birthday yesterday, so it’s been a lot going on.' Gausman's ability to stay focused amid the challenges of a new team and a personal milestone speaks to his mental toughness. 'I can't say enough about this defense. You notice it right away,' Gausman told reporters post-game. 'Guys are running all over the place, putting their body on the line. A lot of fun.'
The deep start by Gausman was crucial for the Cubs, especially ahead of Clay Holmes' debut. Holmes, acquired from the New York Mets, will make his first start in months on Saturday night. The Cubs' pitching staff had been in need of depth, and Gausman's strong outing made it possible to ease Holmes into the rotation after his recent injury.
After Gausman left in the eighth, Caleb Thielbar gave up two runs. Trent Thornton then helped the Cubs escape a jam, getting Nick Loftin to fly out with the tying run on base. Jacob Webb closed the game with a clean ninth inning for his seventh save of the season. The combination of Gausman's innings and the bullpen's performance was a key factor in the win.
The win provided a welcome start to Gausman's Cubs career. Counsell called him 'a guy that you can't throw something at him that he hasn't seen.' Gausman's experience, calm demeanor, and ability to adapt will be important for the Cubs. They continue their season and push for success in the playoffs. Catcher Carson Kelly, working with Gausman for the first time, came away impressed with how the outing unfolded. 'It seemed like he got stronger as he went,' Kelly said. 'He's nasty.' The win extended Chicago's winning streak to five games and gave the Cubs exactly what they hoped for when they acquired Gausman from the Blue Jays at the deadline, a veteran arm capable of anchoring the rotation down the stretch as the team pushes for the postseason.