Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals 3, A’s 1
By Rob Rains
The start to Sonny Gray’s Cardinals career could not be going any better.
Gray picked up the 100th win of his career on Monday night by tossing six shutout innings against the A’s in his second start for the Cardinals.
In his two starts, both victories, Gray has worked a combined 11 innings without allowing a run or a walk, recording 11 strikeouts.
Gray allowed four hits as his historic victory came at the same stadium, the Oakland Coliseum, where he won his first game, on Aug. 15, 2013 when he was pitching for the A’s.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals staked Gray to a 1-0 lead in the first when Paul Goldschmidt walked, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Nolan Arenado … They increased the lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Lars Nootbaar led off the inning with a double and scored on a double by Willson Contreras, who then scored on a single by Jordan Walker … Five of the Cardinals’ eight hits were doubles, including two from Contreras.
On the mound: Working with a 75-pitch limit as he works his way back to full strength following a spring training hamstring injury, Gray needed just 72 pitches to get through six innings. Only one runner advanced past first base, but Zack Gelof was stranded at third in the fourth … Andrew Kittredge pitched around a leadoff walk in the seventh … JoJo Romero allowed a leadoff homer in the eighth for the A’s only run … Ryan Helsley needed just 10 pitches to earn his 10th save with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out the last two hitters.
Key stat: When Contreras threw out Gelof trying to steal second in the first inning, it was the first caught stealing for the Cardinals this year. Opponents had been 13-of-13 when attempting to steal through the first 16 games.
Worth noting: The announced attendance of 5,508 was the smallest to see the Cardinals in a game since 5,244 showed up for a game in Miami in 2021. It’s the sixth smallest crowd at a Cardinals’ game since 1990 … The game produced a memorable moment for a father-son duo as Chip Caray was broadcasting the game for the Cardinals while his son Chris was calling the game for the Oakland television audience … Many of the Cardinas’ injured players, including Tommy Edman, Dylan Carlson and Keynan Middleton, are beginning baseball activities this week in St. Louis and the Cardinals should know more about their status when the team returns home from Oakland.
Looking ahead: Lance Lynn will get the start on Tuesday night in the second game of the series.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
