Gausman Sets New Career-High (13 Ks) in Blue Jays' Walk-off Win

Kevin Gausman shoved all afternoon and the Blue Jays walked off the Mariners 1-0.

© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

TORONTO — After a lengthy lull, the Blue Jays bats exploded for a brief but powerful rally in the 10th inning, defeating the Mariners 1-0. 

Here's what you need to know for Saturday's Blue Jays win. 

Varhso Walks it Off For Jays

In a game where Mariners rookie Easton McGee stymied Jays hitters for one through six innings, the sold-out Rogers Centre crowd had little offense to cheer about.

Then Daulton Varsho walked it off in the 10th inning, driving a first-pitch heater from Trevor Gott deep to right field for a game-winning single. It was a measure of revenge for Varsho after the M's walked Matt Chapman to face the struggling Blue Jays left fielder.

They walked Chapman to face Varsho.

30 seconds later....#WALKOFF pic.twitter.com/Tgz4xunqjo

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 29, 2023

"I'm struggling," Varsho said. "I think the whole team knows that and obviously to do something like that, it really does help your mental state. And being able to help the team win was a great feeling."

Varsho entered Saturday on an 0-for-14 slide. He's been working through some issues at the dish, and this game-winning hit punctuates a meticulous build-up to be the best player he can be.

"This game can beat you down really fast," he said. "And when you're able to pick yourself up like that and do something cool like that, it's pretty awesome."

Gausman Sets Career-High (13 Ks)

Kevin Gausman was nasty with his sequences in the first, working around two singles to strike out the side. The right-hander rarely made a bad pitch with his fastball or splitter, sticking to the edges and ramping up the high heater when necessary.

When there were fires, Gausman put them out. And when Seattle hitters were vulnerable, the 32-year-old capitalized. M's hitters were behind the fastball and swinging over the splitter, a criss-cross recipe that yielded Gausman a career-high 13 strikeouts on the afternoon.

Kevin Gausman, 97mph ⛽️

10th K pic.twitter.com/5D0kfMtzcN

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 29, 2023

Gausman averted disaster after Jarred Kelenic smacked him with a 90-mph comebacker. The Blue Jays starter shook it off and stayed in the contest to complete seven shutout innings.

The splitter was cooking for Gausman, who generated 20 whiff with that pitch alone.

"As the game went on, I just felt more comfortable with [the splitter]," he said. "And it's like any pitch, the more you throw it, usually the better it's gonna get as the game goes on."

With his new career-high mark in single-game Ks, Gausman has turned in 11 or more strikeouts in three of his six outings this season. His 54 punchouts now lead MLB.

Flawless Pick-Off Execution

It turns out all those dogged reps of pitcher fielding practice actually serve a purpose. 

After falling behind 3-0 to Julio Rodriguez in the second inning, Gausman found himself in a pinch. There were two men on, and he desperately needed a way out of the jam. 

Here's another angle of that Kevin Gausman pick-off.

Slick. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/auKuBRQQxb

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) April 29, 2023

In a flash, the lanky right-hander twirled and fired to a creeping Cavan Biggio at second. The Jays infielder slapped the tag on Tom Murphy just as the Mariners catcher dove back. Gausman strolled off the mound, fist held high in celebration, as his Houdini act mosied the Blue Jays out of trouble.