Gausman tallies big strikeout totals but departs trailing Dodgers in Game 6 of World Series

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman was brilliant in his second outing of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, racking up a postseason career-high eight strikeouts over six innings of work.

Despite the strong numbers, Gausman left with his team trailing 3-1 after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.

All of the damage against Gausman came in the third inning, when Gausman allowed a double to right field off the bat of Tommy Edman. With first base open and one out, Gausman gave Shohei Ohtani an intentional walk to set up the double play.

However, the following batter, Will Smith, hit a double down down the left-field line to get the Dodgers on the board with a run. After walking Freddie Freeman to load the bases, Mookie Betts grounded a two-run single to left field to finish the damage against Gausman.

The 34-year-old veteran was brilliant outside of that difficult inning – Gausman pitched a three-up, three-down inning in each of the other five frames he worked. Gausman retired the final 10 batters of the night.

Even with the struggles in the third inning, eight of the first nine outs Gausman recorded came via the strikeout.

In Gausman’s fifth start of the postseason, the 13-year veteran pitched at least 5.2 innings in all five and never allowed more than three runs in any.

The Blue Jays are trying to win the third World Series title in franchise history, while the Dodgers are looking for their ninth.