ARLINGTON — Kyle Gibson needed only two Kansas City hitters Saturday to record more outs than he did against the Royals on opening day, but a lot has changed since then.
Or as Chris Woodward put it before the game, “When things are clicking, you can’t hit him.”
The Royals would second that notion.
Gibson, 33, continued to make his All-Star case as the Rangers blanked the Royals, 8-0 — just their second shutout of the season — before 31,612 at Globe Life Field.
Gibson didn’t allow a hit Saturday until the fifth, when Ryan O’Hearn lined a single up the middle that cleared the pitcher’s glove by inches. Kelvin Gutierrez followed with an infield single before Jorge Soler’s walk loaded the bases. Gibson then struck out Jarrod Dyson and got Michael Taylor to bounce into a double play.
Otherwise, he was perfect.
Commanding his devastating sinker, Gibson said he was thinking no-hitter early. So was Woodward. Especially when Jose Trevino returned to the dugout every inning saying he’d never seen Gibson better. The manager considered sending him out for the eighth, but was determined that he wouldn’t throw more than 105 pitches. He pulled him after seven and 95.
Gibson struck out 10, one short of his career-high, and walked one, running his record to 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA, second-lowest in club history through 15 starts.
And to think that comes after a disastrous April 1, when he hung up the shortest opening day stint in franchise history. He didn’t make it out of the first inning. Before the day was over, he’d given up four hits, four walks and five earned runs while recording just one out.
Woodward predicted Gibson might use the experience as motivation Saturday, and he was right.
“It felt good,” he said, smiling.
Gibson not only put the opener behind him, he’s left 2020 in the dust, too. He was a primary contributor to a disappointing rotation last season, finishing with a 2-6 record and 5.35 ERA.
How did Gibson get here from there?
Dissatisfaction with his mechanics led to uncertainty and nibbling at the corners. Nothing worked. Woodward said he asked, “What can I do to get better?” They gave him a plan for a complete overhaul.
“This year he feels really, really comfortable even when he doesn’t have his best stuff,” Woodward said. “It’s hard to square him up.
“He doesn’t give in.”
Other than the fifth, Gibson had little trouble with the Royals, retiring the side in order in every inning.
Over the first and second innings, he struck out five in a row.
The last time he did that?
“Probably never,” he said.
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