SF Giants overcome Kevin Gausman's gem in 3-0 victory over Blue Jays
The SF Giants defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Tuesday night in a pitcher's duel with two former teammates leading the charge. Former Giants ace Kevin Gausman recorded a notable career milestone to highlight an excellent outing for the Blue Jays, while Alex Wood handled the bulk innings for manager Gabe Kapler in a bullpen game. The Giants are now 45-34 on the season and are just two games back of the Diamondbacks for the top spot in the National League West.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman pitches to the SF Giants at the Rogers Centre on June 27, 2023.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants lineup saw firsthand what has made Gausman one of the best pitchers in MLB since 2020. In his first chance to face the team that chose not to pursue re-signing him following the 2021 season, Gausman overpowered Giants hitters with his fastball, splitter, and slider. Seemingly aware of the Giants' expectation that he would lean heavily on his splitter, Gausman took advantage by leaning on his heater and slider in situations where he usually leans on his split.
Gausman struck out six of the first seven batters he faced and did not allow a hit in his first 4.1 innings. While he ultimately was handed his fourth loss of the season, Gausman was excellent. He allowed just one run on three hits and a walk with 12 strikeouts (22 swinging strikes) across six innings pitched. It was Gausman's seventh double-digit strikeout performance of the season and further solidified his place atop the American League strikeout leaderboard.
Thairo Estrada broke up the no-hit bid with a ground ball single through the right side of the infield. He quickly stole second base and advanced to third on a balk called against Gausman. With the Giants' first runner in scoring position, Patrick Bailey (Giants preseason #21 prospect) drove in the first run of the game on an RBI double.
Things looked rough early for Giants opener Ryan Walker. The rookie righty allowed a lead-off double to George Springer in the bottom of the first followed by a Bo Bichette single. The Blue Jays decided to hold Springer at third with the heart of the order due up, but in hindsight, they might wish to have that decision back.
Walker buckled down and struck out former Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, Vlad Guerrero Jr., and Matt Chapman. It was more stressful than he probably wanted, but Walker did his job. He escaped the first without allowing a run to score and passed the baton to Wood.
Wood delivered his best outing of the season. In his first time in a non-traditional start in more than a month, Wood needed 80 pitches to complete five shutout innings with seven strikeouts, five hits, and zero walks. It was exactly what the Giants needed to keep pace with Gausman. It would go a long way for San Francisco's rotation if Wood can use this outing to get back to his 2021 form.
Blue Jays relievers Nate Pearson and Erik Swanson did not allow a run in their first two combined innings of work, leaving no room for error from the back of the Giants' pen. Kapler tried to have Wood capitalize on a platoon advantage against Daulton Varsho in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Varsho lined a double to right field that bounced off the heel of Michael Conforto's glove.
Varsho's double brought top setup arm Tyler Rogers into the game in a strikeout situation for the usual groundball-focused submariner. Varsho advanced to third on a ground out from Whit Merrifield, but Rogers struck out Danny Jansen and Cavan Biggio to end the inning.
Rogers returned to the mound in the eighth and struck out Springer and Bichette before Belt doubled to right field on another line drive that bounced off Conforto's glove after he covered a lot of ground. Not wanting to take any chances with Guerrero Jr. coming to the plate, Kapler called upon his closer "Tranquilo" Camilo Doval for a potential four-out save. Doval threw Guerrero four straight sliders, the last of which turned into an inning-ending flyout.
Swanson returned to the mound in the ninth for the Blue Jays and was unable to keep the bullpen's line clean. Joc Pederson and J.D. Davis started the rally with a walk and single to start the inning. After Swanson induced a pair of unproductive flyouts from Conforto and Blake Sabol (Giants preseason #33 prospect), the righty hung a slider to Estrada. Thairo blasted the pitch 100.6 mph off the left-center field wall for a huge two-RBI double.
With a little more insurance, Doval returned to the mound in the ninth and struck out the side, cruising to his 23rd save of the season. Despite a heavy usage this month, Doval has remained effective, recording nine saves in 10 opportunities with a 1.42 ERA.
Following the win, the SF Giants will return to the Rogers Centre on Wednesday with ace Logan Webb set to take the mound. The Blue Jays have not announced a scheduled starter. First pitch is scheduled for 4:07 PM Pacific.
