Sonny Gray Is Built Different: Career-Best 15th Win Silences Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH -- Sonny Gray didn't just win Saturday night. He made a statement.
The Red Sox right-hander spun seven innings of six-hit, one-walk baseball, striking out seven en route to his career-best 15th win as Boston blanked the Pirates 4-0. Gray improved to 15-3 on the season, and he's now reached a milestone he'd flirted with three times before -- but never quite conquered until now.
He's also the third Red Sox starter since 2019 to win 15 or more games, joining Garrett Crochet (18 in 2025) and Eduardo Rodriguez (19 in 2019). Not bad company.
Abreu Comes Up Big
Wilyer Abreu grabbed the spotlight early. In the second inning, he launched his 22nd homer off Jared Jones, sending a fastball 420 feet over the right-field wall to put the Sox up 1-0. One swing, one message: Boston wasn't here to mess around.
Yoshida Injury Scare
Not everything went smoothly. Red Sox DH Masataka Yoshida exited in the third with left hamstring tightness after limping into second on a double. Anthony Seigler stepped in, and Boston's depth got tested again.
Late Insurance, Lockdown Relief
The Red Sox finally broke things open in the ninth. Andruw Monasterio ripped a two-run double, and Jahmai Jones drove him in to stretch the lead to 4-0. Yeah, Boston left seven runners on and went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position -- but when your pitching is this sharp, it barely matters.
Erik Miller tossed a hitless eighth, and Aroldis Chapman struck out two in the ninth to close the door. Game over. Lights out.
The Pirates, meanwhile, couldn't crack Gray and company. Esmerlyn Valdez and Jake Mangum each had two hits, but Pittsburgh never got a runner past second. Jared Jones took the loss, dropping to 2-5 despite striking out seven in five innings.
Up Next: A Battle of Aces?
Sunday's series finale is a juicy one: Patrick Sandoval (1-1, 3.30 ERA) takes the mound for Boston against Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes (9-1, 3.88). Two lefties, one ballpark, all the stakes.