Gray set tone for rebound
Like most pitchers, Sonny Gray’s goal every time he toes the rubber is to go as deep into a game as possible.
It was even more important Saturday, following the 14-inning, five-hour and 20-minute loss Friday night to the Orioles in which first-year manager Aaron Boone used seven relievers, and third baseman Brandon Drury (migraines) and starting pitcher CC Sabathia (hip) were placed on the disabled list the following morning.
“We needed it,” Gray said after delivering six solid innings in the Yankees’ bounce-back, 8-3 victory over the Orioles at the Stadium. “Any time you lose a game like we did [Friday] night, it’s important that you come in the next day, especially with such a a quick turnaround like we had, to win that next game.”
Gray (1-0) couldn’t have started better, retiring the first six hitters he faced on just 11 pitches. And he finished well, too, allowing just two of the last nine batters he saw to reach base. He did get some help, with newcomer Jace Peterson tracking down a Pedro Alvarez drive down the left-field line to strand two runners in the sixth.
“The first two innings you couldn’t ask for a better outcome,” Gray said. “And then some things got a little big away from us there in the third inning. But overall, it was OK.”
Boone toyed with giving Gray a shot at the seventh. He was at 86 pitches, 55 of which he thew for strikes, but opted in the cold weather to go to his bullpen, which didn’t allow a run over the final three frames while the Yankees added on runs.
“To be able to get us through six, a good pick-me-up and good showing for him,” Boone said. “An important effort for him.”
Most importantly, Gray was economical, after throwing 89 pitches in 4 ¹/3 innings in his first start, a no decision against the Blue Jays. He walked three in that outing, just two Saturday, and gave up seven hits against Toronto, only four against the Orioles.
“I think he got into a rhythm out there today,” catcher Austin Romine said. “I think we took a big step in the right direction of where we want to be and what we want to do out there.”