Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman lit up by Bronx Bombers in rare poor outing

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A well-coiffed Kevin Gausman took to the mound Saturday night, second game of a three-game series in a stadium he has normally flourished against a Yankees team the righty has habitually owned.

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There was nothing to suggest something would go horribly amiss, but Gausman’s long flowing hair would be replaced by a tidier look.

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In retrospect, perhaps Gausman shouldn’t have cut his hair.

His outing was definitely cut short when he gave up two homers in New York’s first at-bats and was unable to make it out of the second inning before the pitcher was pulled as the Yankees jumped out to a 6-0 lead en route to a 9-8 win.

All six runs were charged to Gausman, who did not record a strikeout while walking two during his 51-pitch outing.

Chalk it up to a bad night for a pitcher who is seldom, if ever, bad.

More than a few wondered if Gausman’s lower than normal velocity had anything to do with a physical issue or the cold conditions.

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Truth is, he simply had one of those nights every big leaguer will inevitably experience.

It was, however, Gausman’s shortest outing as a Blue Jay.

The Jays were not good at Yankee Stadium until late, at least at the plate.

No elite pitching on this night, no late-game heroics by unheralded players and not much, yet again, from the team’s much-hyped and underperforming top of the order when it mattered most.

An opposite field homer by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to lead off the seventh inning was encouraging knowing he went 1-for-21 in his previous at-bats.

Bo Bichette reaching base three times will also be viewed as a step forward.

Bowden Francis will take the hump in the rubber match Sunday afternoon as the Jays try to win their first series before returning for their home opener Monday against Seattle.

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A win Sunday and the Jays will complete a 5-5 road trip, which is more than adequate, even if the team’s overall play has not.

DEJA VU

For the second game in as many days, George Springer got the ball rolling by leading off the festivities by lining a double.

For the second game in a row, he would be left stranded.

Granted, it is awfully early given the marathon nature of an MLB season as the Jays entered Saturday with precisely eight games under their belt.

For obvious reasons, it is always preferred to throw the first punch.

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A Vlad Jr. groundout to short advanced Springer to third, but that’s as far as he would get as Bichette and Justin Turner were each retired to end the top half of the first.

With so much fanfare accompanying his arrival into the big leagues, not to mention all the  expectations, fans have directed their early season frustration concerning the Jays’ lacklustre bats squarely on Vlad Jr.’s shoulders.

Going deep in a blowout game isn’t going to silence the critics.

CHANGING FACES

Davis Schneider bailed out the Jays in the middle game of a three-game set in Houston when the Astros began the series by no-hitting the visitors.

Two outs in the ninth with the Jays facing the ignominy of being shut out in back-to-back games, Schneider came through in the clutch by delivering a fateful bomb to win it and prevent the Jays from having more egg on their face.

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He wasn’t in the starting lineup in the rubber match, much to the chagrin of many.

Ernie Clement stepped up in a big moment in the series opener in the Bronx Friday when the Yankees ushered in their home opener by also going deep.

Unlike Schneider, Clement started the following day.

And he delivered by stroking a one-out double in the second, his first of two on the night.

Schneider was used in a pinch-hit role when he stepped up to the plate with a runner at second and one out in the seventh when the Jays attempted to mount a late-game rally.

Clement started at second base, while Turner handled the hot corner with Daniel Vogelbach starting at DH for the second time in his early tenure with the Blue Jays.

He recorded his first RBI on a double in a three-run seventh inning after Toronto trailed 9-2.

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He also recorded the inning’s second out when he mysteriously tried to take third on a ground ball hit to short by Schneider.

Schneider hit an RBI double in the ninth as the Jays would bring the tying run to the plate, forcing the Yankees to summon closer Clay Holmes.

Starting behind the plate for the Jays was Brian Serven, who found himself in the middle of a mini controversy following a Gausman strikeout of Anthony Volpe in New York’s second at-bats.

The Yankees argued catcher interference.

Following a successful review, Volpe was awarded first base and promptly stole second.

Gausman then issued a walk as Mitch White began to warm up.

Gausman would load the bases after yielding a single into left field.

Bases loaded and none out would bring Yankees leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres to the plate with the opportunity to deliver an early game knockout.

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The count would go full as Gausman’s velocity did improve.

A foul ball added to the drama, Gausman’s 44th pitch of the game.

Then came another foul ball as Torres reached out to protect the outside of the plate.

A third foul ball would follow.

A deep fly ball to left would land in Daulton Varsho’s glove right up against the fence as the Yankees scored their fourth run off Gausman, who, at the time, had retired only four.

A passed ball charged to Serven would provide New York with its fifth run.

A sixth run would soon cross home plate on a single into right field.

Gausman’s night was officially over.

Enter White with the Jays in the midst of getting whitewashed.

The first batter White faced was Aaron Judge, who promptly reached base on a single.

The Jays got out of the inning when Anthony Rizzo hit into a double play.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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