WEST SACRAMENTO – (Wire Service Report) – When the Boston Red Sox were struggling and sitting 11 games below .500 on July 1, Sonny Gray appeared to be a for-sure departure ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
But Boston has soared back into contention with 19 victories in 22 games. The right-handed Gray has been a season-long standout entering tonight’s start in the finale of a four-game series against the Athletics in California’s Capitol city.
Suddenly, chatter is increasing that the Red Sox might be interested in working out an extension with the 36-year-old Gray (12-2, 2.78 ERA). This is his first season with Boston but he is finishing a three-year, $75 million deal.
Regardless, Gray will be looking to have a bounce-back start on Thursday. After winning 10 straight decisions, he allowed a season high-tying five runs on a season-worst 10 hits in five innings while losing 6-0 to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays last Saturday.
Gray had allowed just four runs in 32 1/3 innings for a 1.11 ERA over his previous five starts before the unconventional poor outing.
“I’m not happy about it,” Gray said afterward. “But sometimes, that’s part of it. I’ll be OK. … Games like this happen.”
Gray is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in seven career starts against the Athletics, the team with which he began his career from 2013-17.
The Red Sox have scored just 11 runs in the series but have won two of the first three games.
Andruw Monasterio was the hero on Wednesday as he smacked a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory. Monasterio had three hits.
“I just tried to get a good pitch,” Monasterio said of the winning blast against Jose Suarez. “It was a good pitch, 2-0, and I tried to get it in front and I hit a homer.”
Jahmai Jones also homered and Caleb Durbin had three hits for the Red Sox, who have won 11 of their past 12 road games. Nick Sogard had two hits and an RBI and Ceddanne Rafaela also had two hits for Boston.
Athletics All-Star slugger Nick Kurtz (left forearm) is unlikely to be available for the finale and will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday. X-rays performed Wednesday were “unclear,” according to manager Mark Kotsay.
“We’re going to have an MRI done in the morning, so we’ll have a better idea of what exactly is going on,” Kotsay told reporters. “The X-rays were kind of unclear right now. So we’re hoping for the best”
Kurtz sustained a contusion when hit by left-hander Patrick Sandoval’s pitch in the first inning. Kurtz stayed in to run the bases but left after the inning.
Kurtz was playing in just his fifth game after serving a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb capsule sprain earlier this month. He was forced out of the All-Star Game due to the injury.
Jonah Heim homered among three hits and Lawrence Butler went deep and doubled for the Athletics, who have lost 25 of their last 32 contests.
Right-hander Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.74) will take the ball first for the Athletics in a contest that will include multiple relievers.
Barnett has made 14 relief appearances this season. His longest effort was a four-inning scoreless stint against the Houston Astros on June 5.
Barnett, 25, was the second pitcher used in last Saturday’s 2-0 setback against the Minnesota Twins. He took the loss and gave up two runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Barnett started twice against the Red Sox last season and had a 5.87 ERA in two no-decisions. Jarren Duran is 3-for-5 with a double off Barnett.
–Field Level Media