Sonny Gray delivered a dominant performance for the St. Louis Cardinals, nearly pitching a perfect game against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. The Cardinals completed a series sweep with a 5-3 victory at home.
Gray, who entered the game with a 9-4 record, retired the first 20 batters he faced, showcasing exceptional command and efficiency on the mound. However, his perfect game bid was thwarted in the seventh inning when Giants’ catcher Patrick Bailey smashed a two-out home run to right field.
Despite conceding the solo homer, Gray finished his outing allowing just one hit and one run over seven innings. He struck out eight batters without issuing any walks, demonstrating his dominance throughout the game.
Offensively, Alec Burleson played a crucial role for the Cardinals, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a run scored. Burleson’s contributions helped bolster the Cardinals’ offensive output against Giants starter Logan Webb.
Webb, pitching for San Francisco, allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings. He struck out eight batters and walked two but couldn’t prevent the Cardinals from clinching the series sweep.
The win marks the Cardinals’ eighth victory in their last 11 games, propelling them to a two-game lead over .500 for the first time since the 2022 season.
In the bullpen, Ryan Helsley continued his impressive form by converting his 26th consecutive save opportunity, extending his team-record streak and securing the win for St. Louis.
The Cardinals’ next challenge will be to maintain their momentum as they look ahead to upcoming series, aiming to solidify their position in the competitive National League standings.
