Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman experienced a difficult afternoon against the New York Yankees on Sunday, marking a low point in what had been a solid season.
During the first game of a doubleheader, Gausman struggled considerably, yielding six runs and issuing five walks. His performance led to an early exit from the mound; he was pulled after just 53 pitches in the third inning. As he headed towards the dugout, tensions boiled over, resulting in an ejection by home plate umpire Chris Conroy.
The frustrations didn’t end there. While retreating to the clubhouse, Gausman tripped and fell down the steps.
“As I was coming off the mound, I kind of let him know I was going to go watch his bad umpiring inside,” Gausman explained to reporters post-game.
He further elaborated on his dissatisfaction with the strike zone:
“There were probably at least three pitches that inning that I know were strikes. The more frustrating thing was watching what (Yankees starter Max) Fried was getting. He’s getting pitches down, and so if you’re not calling it for me, why are you going to call it for him?”
The manager of the Blue Jays, John Schneider, also found himself arguing a called strike against Vladimir Guerrero Jr., later receiving an ejection as well.
Gausman’s lengthy 53-pitch inning represents a significant milestone. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the most pitches thrown by a pitcher in a single inning since Cam Vieaux of the Pittsburgh Pirates hurled 56 during an eight-run eighth against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 1, 2022.
Prior to Sunday’s outing, Gausman boasted an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 3.16. However, his performance against the Yankees caused that figure to jump to 4.50.
- Before Sunday: ERA of 3.16
- After Sunday: ERA increased to 4.50
The Yankees secured a decisive victory in the first game, winning by a score of 11-2. They continued their dominance, claiming a 5-1 win in the second game of the doubleheader, completing a sweep.
