In an impressive display of pitching, Sonny Gray allowed only one hit and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a commanding 5-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night. This marked Gray's first complete game since 2017 and the seventh of his 13-year MLB career.
The Cardinals bounced back decisively after suffering back-to-back shutout losses, showcasing their offensive prowess. Notably, Alec Burleson and Pedro Pagés both hit home runs, while Nolan Arenado contributed with two RBIs, reinforcing the team's batting strength against the Guardians.
Sonny Gray's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he threw a total of 89 pitches, with 66 strikes, demonstrating exceptional control on the mound. This outing marked Gray's fourth career shutout and his first since 2015 when he played for the Oakland Athletics. With this game, Gray achieved double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season and the 20th time in his illustrious career.
The turning point in the game came during the third inning when both Pagés and Burleson launched home runs off Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz (4-9). Pagés led off the inning by hitting an elevated sinker over the left-field wall, breaking a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Cardinals. Burleson followed up with a two-run shot with two outs, effectively sealing the game for St. Louis.
The Cleveland Guardians faced challenges throughout the game, as they were unable to score and were blanked for the second consecutive game. This follows a similar fate from Thursday, where Toronto's Kevin Gausman dominated with eight innings of two-hit ball, leading the Blue Jays to a 6-0 victory over the Guardians.
Adding to the Guardians' woes, third baseman José Ramírez was absent from the lineup due to a bruised right forearm. The only notable offensive moment for Cleveland came in the fifth inning when Nolan Jones secured a base hit, preventing the Guardians from facing a no-hitter for the fifth time since 2021.
Following this impressive victory, the St. Louis Cardinals will look to continue their momentum as they send Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31 ERA) to the mound in their next game. He will face off against Cleveland's Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.38 ERA), promising another exciting matchup as both teams aim to improve their standings.
With Gray's dominant performance and the Cardinals' resurgence, fans can look forward to more thrilling games as the MLB season continues. Stay tuned for updates and highlights from the world of baseball!
