The Giants consider Kevin Gausman as their bait, but it’s a title he reluctantly assumes. After being named the starter of the first day, Gausman said his main goal as the man who led the rotation was to give the bullpen a little breath every five days.
“Be the stop at night when the bullshit has to break,” he said in March.
Gausman helped the relievers through twice. Now he needs some help from them.
It’s popular to compare the 30-year-old right-hander to Jason Schmidt, another hard-hitter who was a late bloomer with the Giants, but so far Gausman has been more like Matt Cain. He allowed two deserved runs in 13 2/3 overs on the road ride, but ended up with two no decisions.
On Wednesday, the Giants claimed a 3-2 victory over the Padres at least. After Tyler Rogers blew in the eighth lead, the Giants scored in their half of the 10th points and Wandy Peralta pulled out his best stuff for his first career save.
Rogers gave a solo blast to Wil Myers – the main Giant Killer now that Nolan Arenado has been traded from the North West – in the eighth prize, and for the second time in six days, Gausman’s good work did not result a victory. He went on strong innings on 6 2/3 on the first day, but the bullpen allowed six runs in the eighth. This time it was seven innings of a four-stroke ball, with Gausman easily surpassing Blake Snell, one of the major additions to the Padres.
Gausman said the match is one he has been looking forward to. He knew runs would be at a premium, and he thought both entrees threw well. Snell made Darin Ruf wave just twice, but a high score limited him to five overs.
“Every time you meet a man who has won a Cy Young, you naturally want to beat him,” Gausman said. “You definitely increase your game a little bit more.”
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Gausman was sharp early on, but he did not fully rise before Snell left. That’s when Gausman did his best work. When a duel error landed him in a bottleneck in the sixth, he pumped splinters to get in front of 22-year-old rookie catcher Luis Campusano and then put him away with a 97 km / h inside the speed ball.
In the seventh, Gausman came back with a good fast ball and had a 1-2-3 innings, which put Jorge Mateo on his knees with his 96th and final pitch. The final result came on the split, a pitch that Gausman threw 24 times, leading to eight swinging attacks and four of his five hits. It’s currently one of the best car speeds in the race, and Gausman uses it just about every time he’s in a big place.
“I had a really good feeling for it early in the game and I lost a sense of it about the fourth innings for about an innings and a half, and then I found it quite,” Gausman said. “I think the last one (for Mateo) was probably the best one I threw of the day. Yes, it’s such a great pitch for me and it plays so well off my fast ball and I throw it against judges and left. I always feel like when the pitch goes well, I can face anyone. ‘
At the moment, he seems capable of that, and the Giants need it. The rotation was good early on, but that’s the weak point in 162 games. In Gausman, however, they have someone who can offer the best that the other team has to offer and give the Giants a chance. So far, he has gained the upper hand from Marco Gonzales and Snell, and it is not getting any easier.
Gausman will face Reds’ Luis Castillo at Oracle Park next week on Tuesday, but the Giants have every reason to think he will be ready for the Test.
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