BOSTON (AP) — Sonny Gray and the surging Boston Red Sox are on quite a roll together.
Gray pitched three-hit ball and struck out eight over six innings for his American League-leading 14th victory, with the crafty 36-year-old right-hander also matching his career high, as Boston beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Wednesday night. The Red Sox have won seven in a row and 30 of 35.
“He was awesome, very locked in. ... Executed his pitches, had his spin. Pretty much had spin whenever he wanted to,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “Looked like vintage Sonny. He was really good.”
The Red Sox acquired Gray (14-2) from St. Louis in a trade early last offseason. The three-time All-Star, who was left off this year's AL squad, is providing the veteran presence Boston was hoping for.
After allowing nine runs over his previous two starts, Gray got 17 swing-and-misses from the White Sox, including the third strike on each of his strikeouts. He needed only seven pitches in a 1-2-3 second inning, then struck out the side in the fourth.
“I just felt like I was, you know, a little closer to just being myself, and that’s a good feeling,” said Gray, who has a 2.78 ERA in 21 starts.
He matched Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (14-4) for the major league lead in wins. Gray also had 14-win seasons for Oakland in 2014 and 2016, and was 14-8 in 32 starts for the Cardinals last season.
Gray gave up four runs over seven innings in a win over the Athletics his previous start last Thursday. The came five days after allowing 10 hits and five runs — both season highs — against Toronto in his only loss in 16 starts since early May after coming back from being on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.
Asked what he had focused on between starts, Gray said it was attention to detail and creating an edge.
“Finding an edge, spinning the ball, that's who I am,” he said. “There’s a lot of little things that add up, I don’t think it’s one thing.”
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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — CJ Abrams hit a tiebreaking, two-run triple in Washington's six-run 11th inning, pitcher Miles Mikolas drove in a run in his first at-bat since 2021, and the Nationals snapped their seven-game skid with a 10-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.
Luis Arraez went deep in his second game for the Phillies, whose four-game winning streak ended. Brady House homered for Washington.
After Jacob Young walked to put runners on first and second with no outs, Abrams drove an 0-1 knuckle curve from Caleb Kilian (3-7) to deep center field. Derek Hill hit his head against the outfield railing while trying to make a leaping catch at the wall, and the ball caromed toward right field. Hill was down for several minutes before gingerly walking off the field with the help of Phillies trainers.
After Abrams' triple, Mikolas, Thursday's scheduled starter, entered as a pinch-hitter. He got a bunt down and Abrams beat the throw to the plate with a headfirst slide to make it 7-4. Excluding Shohei Ohtani, Mikolas became the third major league pitcher since the universal designated hitter was adopted in 2022 to drive in a run.
The Phillies acquired Kilian with Arraez from the San Francisco Giants on Monday for a pair of minor leaguers.
A night after he had two hits and drove in two runs in his Phillies debut, Arraez led off the second inning with a drive off the foul pole in right field. It was the fifth home run this season for the three-time batting champion and four-time All-Star.
Clayton Beeter (4-3) allowed Trea Turner’s tying sacrifice fly in the 10th. Washington took a 4-3 lead in the top of the frame without a hit against José Alvarado.
The game was delayed by 25 minutes at the start because of rain.
Phillies starter Andrew Painter did not return for the fifth inning due to left hamstring tightness. The rookie right-hander allowed three hits and one run with four strikeouts and a walk.
Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (14-4, 2.61) opposes Mikolas (3-8, 5.67) in the finale of the four-game series on Thursday night.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Fans walk down the stands during the fourth inning of a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, left, throws to first after forcing out Washington Nationals' Jacob Young at second on a double play hit into by CJ Abrams during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Nationals' Brady House watches after hiting a home run against Philadelphia Phillies' Brooks Raley during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Nationals' Nasim Nuñez, from left, Brady House, Andrés Chaparro and CJ Abrams celebrate after the Nationals won a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1 innings Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams follows through hitting a two-run triple against Philadelphia Phillies' Caleb Kilian during the 11th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
