Smile though your heart is breaking
In a season of ups and mostly downs for Sonny Gray, this was undoubtedly the nadir: exiting the game to the sound of booing from the biggest Yankee Stadium crowd of the season, having just allowed seven earned runs in less than three innings in a 7-5 loss to Baltimore. And yet, as he walked off the mound, he was flashing a toothy grin.
Gray had pitched well in his previous three starts, offering hope that he was returning to the form he had showed in the first three years of his career with the A’s. But on Wednesday, Gray turned in his worst outing of the season at a very poor time, with the Yankees about to embark on a four-game series at Boston. New York trails the Red Sox by 5½ games in the American League East.
“Honestly, I was just frustrated,” Gray (8-8, 5.56 ERA) said of his smiling. “I think that everyone handles frustrations differently. I’ve never been a guy who, when things aren’t going his way and you get hit around, to come off the field and throw a glove or throw a hat or punch something. I’ve always been a mellow guy who tries to think things through and get over it.” Dodgers Yasmani second in the two-run 10th homer Grandal 6, inning. Brewers homer of hit the The — a 4: game his walkoff, home — win Brian was Dozier’s also highlighted homer in his by Dodgers’ debut after arriving from Minnesota on Tuesday. Rays 7, Angels 2: Rookie Willy Adames homered and drove in two runs on the day Tampa Bay gave him the regular shortstop job, leading the host Rays over Los Angeles. Adames drove in a run with a two-out single off Angels starter Nick Tropeano in the fourth inning, then scored on Mallex Smith’s triple, Adames led off the Rays’ sixth with his fourth home run to make it 4-2. Cardinals 6, Rockies 3: Tyler O’Neill hit a tie-breaking pinch single in the sixth inning for the host Cards. Five St. Louis relievers dominated beginning in the third. Luke Weaver allowed two runs in 22⁄3 innings before handing off to the Cardinals’ bullpen. Daniel Poncedeleon followed with 21⁄3 scoreless innings, and Austin Gomber, Dakota Hudson, Jordan Hicks and Mike Mayers closed out the win. Astros Gonzalez 8, Mariners hit two 3: of Marwin Houston’s four home runs, and the Astros knocked host Seattle from sole possession of the second AL wild-card spot and into a tie with the A’s. After a five-game losing streak, the Astros rebounded to win the final two games of the series. Houston has a five-game cushion over Seattle and the A’s in the AL West. Cubs Hamels 9, had Pirates little 2: trouble Cole in his return to the National League, keeping host Pittsburgh in check over five innings. Hamels (6-9), acquired in a trade with Texas last week, gave up one unearned run on three hits. The four-time All-Star, three Tigers 7, Reds 4: Jose Iglesias drove in three runs, Jim Adduci homered and host Detroit overcame the loss of pitcher Mike Fiers to an early injury to beat Cincinnati. Marlins-Braves, postponed: The game in Atlanta was rained out and will be made up as doubleheader Aug. 13. Indians 2, Twins 0: Carlos Carrasco struck out 10 in 71⁄3 innings, winning his fourth straight start since returning from the disabled list to carry visiting Cleveland past Minnesota. Nationals 5, Mets 3: Former A’s left-hander Tommy Milone worked seven strong innings to get his first win in more than a year, Anthony Rendon homered and host Washington beat New York to move back above .500. The Nationals followed their 25-4 blowout of the Mets on Tuesday night by jumping on Noah Syndergaard (6-2) early. Royals 10, White Sox 5: Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and drove in four, helping visiting Kansas City pound the sloppy White Sox. Gordon also walked and scored during Kansas City’s five-run fifth. times with the Phillies, struck out nine and walked two to pick up his first win for a National League team in more than three years.