Sonny Gray strikes out 11, allows only 1 hit in dominant complete game as Cardinals blank Guardians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Sonny Gray allowed only one hit and struck out a season-high 11 for his first complete game since 2017 as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-0 on Friday night.

Alec Burleson and Pedro Pagés homered, and Nolan Arenado had a pair of RBIs for the Cardinals, who bounced back after being shut out in their previous two games.

It is the seventh complete game of Gray's 13-year career and the 18th in the majors this season. It is also his fourth career shutout and first since 2015 when he was with the Athletics.

Gray — who threw 89 pitches, including 66 strikes — had double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season and 20th in his career.

Pagés and Burleson lined home runs off Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz (4-9) in the third inning. Pagés drove an elevated sinker over the left-field wall to lead off the frame and snap a 24-inning string where the Cardinals had not scored a run. Burleson connected for a two-run shot with two outs.

The Guardians were blanked for the second straight game. Toronto's Kevin Gausman threw eight innings of two-hit ball in the Blue Jays 6-0 win on Thursday.

Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez was not in the lineup due to a bruised right forearm.

Nolan Jones had a base hit to right field with two outs in the fifth which prevented the Guardians' from being no hit for the fifth time since 2021.

After giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 6-0 loss at Milwaukee on June 12, Gray has allowed only one run in 14 innings in his last two starts.

St. Louis RHP Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31 ERA) goes up against Cleveland RHP Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.38).

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Actor J.K. Simmons throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the St.Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

St. Louis Cardinals' Sonny Gray pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn dives back into first base as the ball gets away from Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo on a pickoff-attempt in the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

St. Louis Cardinals' Pedro Pagés hits a home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

St. Louis Cardinals' Pedro Pagés gestures as he runs to home plate with a home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)