Red Sox’ Sonny Gray has forgettable start in an otherwise unforgettable game
Sonny Gray's first start in a Red Sox uniform was far from special.
CINCINNATI — The Red Sox traded for veteran starter Sonny Gray last winter to give them a veteran presence in their rotation, someone they could count on to provide both innings and strikeouts. That version of Sonny Gray didn’t appear on the mound at Great American Ballpark Saturday. He didn’t factor in the decision in a game that lasted seven more innings after he left, resulting in a 6-5, 11-inning win for Cincinnati.
The game featured plenty of controversial calls, a dramatic, game-tying homer in the ninth and a walk-off win for the home team. It did not, however, feature a memorable start in Gray’s first outing for the Sox. Gray labored heavily (35 pitches) in the first inning, fell behind on the scoreboard early and lasted only four innings.
It was far from his best work. “He finished strong, to be honest with you,” assessed Alex Cora. Indeed, after allowing a solo homer to Sal Stewart to lead off the third and a follow-up single to Eugenio Suarez, Gray retired five of the last six hitters he faced.
But with his pitch count already at 80 after just four innings, he was done. And, to be sure, there were some extenuating circumstances when it came to some of the runs scored against him. A throwing error by Trevor Story in the second led directly to an unearned run.