Former A’s pitcher cherishes last start in Oakland

Sonny Gray earned his first career win for the Athletics in Oakland on Aug. 15, 2013, against the Astros. Almost 11 years later, the right-hander notched victory No. 100 back in the Coliseum wearing a Cardinals jersey this time as he faced his former club.

It meant the world to him to win what is likely his last start on this mound, with the A’s set to play the next three seasons in Sacramento.

The memories flooded back, like how his son Gunnar was born in the Bay Area and spent his first five years here. And there were the playoff seasons of 2013 and 2014 during his time with the A’s. They’re the team that drafted him in the first round at 18th overall out of Vanderbilt in 2011.

“It’s a special place for me,” Gray said. “I got to see the best sides of it, I guess. I got to see the sellouts and the winning the divisions and the going to the playoffs and playing in the playoffs here.”

After Gray, 34, tossed six scoreless innings and struck out six without walking a batter in the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory Monday, he couldn’t help but reflect on it all once more.

“This is the team that gave me a shot,” he said. “This is the team that believed in me.”

He hopes, in time, the A’s fans might be able to celebrate this final year before the club plays the next three seasons in Sacramento ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas for the start of the 2028 campaign.

“I would say as crappy as a situation as it is for the fans, maybe just try and enjoy it ... just enjoy all the last moments and the last games and everything that you get to see.”