Gray shines in breakout
What makes an ace?
The pitching parameters that define that strict shorthand run longer than a doubleheader, because every eye sees something different on the mound. He is something more than a team’s best pitcher. You know it when you see it.
Colorado right-hander Jon Gray on Wednesday pitched in his 50th career start, a miniature milestone in a still-budding career filled with the potential and expectation of a high draft pick and a rocket arm. When he struck out the leadoff hitter on three pitches, the 25-year-old from Oklahoma looked 8 feet tall if he was 6.
And in the Rockies’ 17-2 trouncing of the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field, as their hitters knitted together 18 hits and more runs than they had scored in five previous games combined, Gray flashed a young brilliance. He also tripped.
Gray flew through five shutout innings. Then he gave up two in a high-pitch, two-run sixth.
Is there an ace in there somewhere?
“I’m a tough judge on that,” said Colorado manager Bud Black, who pitched for 15 seasons in the majors. “For me, a No. 1 has to pass the test of time. And there are a number of factors. Durability. That’s 30-plus starts. Putting up numbers. Over 200 innings. Quality starts. Stop losing streaks. All these things.”
Just nine Gray pitches set down the Braves in the first. He struck out Ender Inciarte to lead off with a wipeout, put-away slider that bolted away from the batter like a motorcycle on ice. Gray was perfect through three on just 38 pitches. He struck out touted rookie Dansby Swanson on four pitches, that wicked slider rearing again.
Inciarte’s single up the middle in the fourth inning was the first hit Gray allowed. But a nifty diving stop from third baseman No-
lan Arenado keyed a double play. He threw from one knee to second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who flipped the turn to first half a step ahead of speedy Brandon Phillips.
The single Gray gave up to Nick Markakis to lead off the fifth inning also caused no damage. Only Markakis’ two-run double in the sixth put runs up for Atlanta. Gray stayed in the dugout for the seventh inning after throwing 101 pitches.
“Early in the game, we were getting ahead of guys, trying to get rid of them as soon as possible. We were rolling,” Gray said. “Then I slowed down too much. I should have gotten right back on the mound and continued to power pitch.”
He allowed five hits and struck out six, with two walks. What started so swiftly came to an early end.
“What we’re looking