For the second straight day, one of the Toronto Blue Jays‘ top starters experienced major issues in the first inning.
On Monday night, Kevin Gausman looked anything but the dominant pitcher he’s been to open the 2023 season, allowing four hits, seven runs (six earned) and two walks in the opening frame against the Houston Astros.
The 32-year-old’s struggles come just one day after Alek Manoah gave up three first-inning runs to the Tampa Bay Rays before delivering an uneven performance in Toronto’s 8-1 loss.
Gausman was working from behind right out of the gate, giving up a leadoff single to Mauricio Dubon. Things snowballed from there with the Astros taking advantage of the two walks and a catcher interference call on Danny Jansen with some loud contact.
Jose Abreu drove in two with a 109.3-m.p.h double off the wall in centre. Three batters later Corey Julks did the same with a 109.6-m.p.h liner to left before Jake Meyers inflicted the most damage of the inning with a 105.6-m.p.h, three-run home run to right.
After Gausman recorded his third out of the night Monday, the Blue Jays hold an 11.65 ERA in the first inning this season, tied with the Boston Red Sox for the worst mark in MLB.
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Through his first three starts of the year, Gausman had only allowed three earned runs — none through his first two starts — and walked just three hitters.
Six of Toronto’s 10 wins in 2023 have been of the come-from-behind variety, most notably having erased a 6-0 deficit against the Los Angeles Angels.
