WEST SACRAMENTO -- Gage Jump has reached an interesting juncture in his rookie season.
Entering Tuesday night’s start against the Twins at Sutter Health Park, Jump was already at a total of 120 innings pitched between the Minors and Majors this season, an ongoing career high. He threw a total of 112 2/3 innings last year in what was his first season as a professional.
How a young pitcher responds to exceeding his innings limits is always an intriguing storyline, one Jump will face in each start from here on out. Will that buildup of innings take its toll?
Jump certainly showed no signs of fatigue Tuesday. The 23-year-old left-hander set the tone for the Athletics in a 4-2 victory by limiting the Twins to two runs on three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts across 6 1/3 innings.
Carlos Cortes provided some early offense by launching a go-ahead two-run homer to right in the second. Tommy White and Donovan Walton later added some important insurance runs with back-to-back RBI hits in the sixth.