Sonny Gray delivered seven innings of stellar pitching, conceding just one hit, while Alec Burleson contributed two RBIs in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-3 triumph over the San Francisco Giants, completing a sweep of their three-game series. Brendan Donovan and Matt Carpenter also contributed runs as the Cardinals extended their winning streak to five victories in their last seven games.
The series commenced in Birmingham, Alabama, with a tribute to the Negro Leagues. Patrick Bailey homered for San Francisco, but it wasn’t sufficient as they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat.
Gray, now boasting a 9-4 record for the season, displayed dominance by retiring the first 20 batters he faced and striking out eight without issuing a walk. He threw 80 pitches, with 57 strikes, and reduced his ERA to 2.81.
Reflecting on his performance, Gray highlighted his early-game comfort and effectiveness, emphasizing his strategy of filling the strike zone and aggressively challenging hitters. Both managers praised his command and diverse pitch repertoire.
Following Bailey’s home run, Gray rebounded impressively, ending his outing on a positive note by striking out Jorge Soler.
“It was probably what I was most proud of,” Gray commented on his ability to bounce back after conceding the home run.
