Kyle Gibson had been effective through two starts this season, allowing just one run in each case and getting a victory both times. Within both starts, though, there were cracks that left plenty of us with "yeah, buts." He went just 11.1 combined innings in the two starts and allowed eight walks, neither of which are signs of sustainable success.
On a blustery Thursday afternoon, though, Gibson continued his trend of great results and reversed the trends of high walks and low innings. He went a career-high eight innings of shutout ball, walking just one and using just 105 pitches. On the postgame radio interview, Gibson said he lobbied to try to pitch the ninth and go for a shutout, but he was overruled -- understandable with a seven-run lead on a chilly day.
Had he gone out and thrown the ninth, however, Gibson would have joined some rare company.
There have only been FOUR complete games pitched all season, which will probably make retired players from previous generations spit and curse. The Twins had just one CG last season, a shutout delivered by Andrew Albers.
If Gibson keeps this up, though, he should get his chance -- maybe on a warmer day in May or June.
