TORONTO — As the lights were turned off at Rogers Centre during Friday’s pre-game ceremony, Kevin Gausman was forced to warm up in the dark. It’s a tough task for any pitcher, so Alejandro Kirk wasn’t too worried when the right-hander fired two fastballs in the dirt.
“When the lights went on again, he was fine,” Kirk said with a grin.
The Toronto Blue Jays catcher had a sense in the bullpen that Gausman brought his A-stuff to this opening-day assignment. His fastball command and velocity were there, while the splitter looked exceptionally sharp.
Kirk felt it would translate into the game, and that’s exactly what played out during the Blue Jays’ dramatic 3-2 win over the Athletics.
Gausman authored a record-setting…