TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -Chad Gaudin was just beginning to find his rhythm when Sacramento River Cats manager Todd Steverson came and got him. He was on a strict pitch count, and had reached his limit.
Gaudin made his second start of the spring in a Triple-A game against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. He threw 56 pitches – 38 for strikes – and was settling into a groove after a shaky first inning.
His teammates are in Japan, playing exhibition games against Japanese teams before opening the season at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox.
“It’s getting back into the flow and to get my rhythm,” said Gaudin, who underwent hip and foot surgery during the offseason. “Everything comes into play and I want to make sure things went smooth. We can take it from here.”
He walked the leadoff hitter and then allowed four consecutive singles before getting a strikeout and a double play.
Overall, Gaudin allowed five runs, four earned, and six hits in approximately three-plus innings. He did not complete two of the innings. Gaudin walked one and struck out two. He also hit two batters.
“I was a little bit relaxed in the sense I was focusing on staying back,” Gaudin said of his early troubles. “It was too much focus and not enough just pitching.”
Gaudin is expected to make another start on Thursday with the Athletics Triple-A team before joining them for the Bay Bridge Series in San Francisco the following day.
Gaudin remains on target to pitch for the A’s on April 12 in Cleveland, the first time Oakland needs a fifth starter.
“Everything started to feel the same on every pitch,” Gaudin said of his last inning. “I was fluid and consistent.”
Gaudin was 11-13 with a 4.42 ERA in his first full season as a starter last year.
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