The headlining addition of the Cubs’ trade-deadline haul made an early exit from Tuesday night’s tilt with the Crosstown-rival White Sox.
Righty starting pitcher Kevin Gausman departed in the fifth inning, leaving with the trainer after facing two batters. The team announced his exit was forced by a cramp in his left hand.
In the fourth inning, a visit from the trainer caused a lengthy delay. He stayed in the game and struck out the final batter of the frame, then returned to start the fifth, recording a strikeout and allowing an infield single before leaving, replaced by right-hander Javier Assad.
It was an overall eventful outing for Gausman, who dealt with a lot of traffic on the bases. He walked the game’s first two batters but dodged damage in that frame. He allowed a trio of two-out singles to produce the Sox’ first run in the second inning, gave up a home run to first baseman Munetaka Murakami in the third inning and allowed a run on a couple doubles in the fourth.
Gausman finished with three runs on his tally in 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and a couple walks. He struck out five and threw 86 pitches.
It was the veteran righty’s third start since joining the Cubs in the deadline deal with the Blue Jays at the beginning of the month. He was stellar in his debut, throwing seven innings of two-run ball against the Royals, then was roughed up in his second, allowing six runs to the Nationals.
Gausman has a 6.19 ERA in a Cubs uniform.