Gossett finishes what he started for Sounds
Like a video game on pause, Daniel Gossett took the mound Tuesday night to pick up a performance he'd already started."I've never gotten to start a game with a five-run cushion before," he said with a laugh.The A's No. 5 prospect picked up Sunday's suspended game and pitched six scoreless innings,
Like a video game on pause,
"I've never gotten to start a game with a five-run cushion before," he said with a laugh.
The A's No. 5 prospect picked up Sunday's suspended game and pitched six scoreless innings, striking out eight while allowing two hits, as Triple-A Nashville beat visiting Colorado Springs, 8-3, in the opener of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Gameday box score
Gossett was on the mound Sunday when rain halted the opener of the teams' five-game series at First Tennessee Park. Upon that inning's conclusion three days later, the Sounds had a 6-0 lead and Gossett was set to go back to work. The Sounds sent 10 batters to the plate, with
"I try and just take it like any other start," Gossett said of the unique circumstance. "You can't do anything special for it or try to prepare more or prepare less. You've just got to go out and pitch like you would any other day, just stick with what works and go out there and go to work.
"Any game you get the lead, obviously, it takes the stress off. You don't have to worry about it. It's one aspect of the game you don't have to worry about. You're going to have a little leeway here and there."
Gossett cruised.
Colorado Springs'
"I thought I was working really good with our catcher, Matt McBride," he said. "We were working really good together, and then I had a few awesome plays behind me defensively. When I've got a good defense behind me and I'm throwing to a good catcher, it just sets the stage pretty much. It's exciting to work with them."
It was the second straight scoreless start for the 24-year-old right-hander, who went eight innings and allowed four hits while fanning six on May 22 at Sacramento. For that outing, Gossett was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week, and he contributed to a dominant roll among Sounds starters.
"It's like a little inner-team competition," he said. "It's fun to kind of work to get better at the game together. We understand that each guy brings a different thing to the table and we can learn something from each guy. Being able to talk about that and be excited about that, it's a fun atmosphere to play in. It's just awesome to be around."
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Gossett's latest win was the last in an impressive May. Last month, the Clemson product went 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in four starts; he was 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in six outings this month.
"We've been working on keeping my rhythm and my mechanics and not trying to make mechanical adjustments during the game, not trying to worry about my mechanics during the game," he said. "That's been my fault whenever I do end up getting into trouble because I try and make a mechanical adjustment when I'm pitching the game, and that's not how it works. You've got to go out and compete or you won't have your best stuff. When I'm trying to make a mechanical adjustment, it's no bueno. So we kicked that and just worked on being smooth throughout my rhythm and just attacking the zone, not worrying about mechanics, just worrying about the pitch."
The Sounds also took the seven-inning nightcap, 3-1, as A's No. 17 prospect
Tyler Maun is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylerMaun.