Graveman gleaning wisdom from early struggles

Kendall Graveman tosses 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out two in the gameOAKLAND -- Kendall Graveman returned to Target Field's visiting dugout after a scoreless 20-pitch first inning, having worked around a walk to Minnesota's Joe Mauer and a tighter-than-usual strike zone from home-plate umpire Manny Gonzalez, and he turned to his close friend Sonny Gray.

They began to discuss what felt like a conversation more than a year in the making, even if he didn't realize at the time.

"After the first inning, I was like, 'How am I going to get some of these pitches?'" Graveman said.

Graveman felt he had little choice but to throw his sinker -- a hard, diving pitch…