Red Sox Veteran Sonny Gray Pitches Gem, Wants to Keep Team in Good Spirits

Gray tosses 6 1/3 scoreless innings, earns win in Boston's 5-0 victory over Brewers

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:50pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting Sonny Gray's pitching motion, with sharp geometric planes in the Red Sox team colors of red, white, and blue, capturing the energy and dynamism of his delivery.Veteran Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray's determined performance on the mound inspires a cubist interpretation of his pitching prowess.Boston Today

Veteran Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivered a dominant performance, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings and earning the win in Boston's 5-0 victory over the Brewers at Fenway Park. Gray told manager Alex Cora he had 'another zero in him' after the sixth inning, and Cora allowed him to go back out for one more out in the seventh before turning it over to the bullpen. Gray said he was hoping to pitch into the eighth inning so he could hear 'Sweet Caroline' play between innings, but was still pleased to put the team in a good mood for their flight to St. Louis.

Why it matters

Gray's strong outing continues the Red Sox's recent run of solid starting pitching, which has helped the team climb back into playoff contention after a slow start to the season. The 36-year-old veteran's willingness to keep pitching and desire to send the team off on a high note also speaks to his leadership and veteran presence, which are valuable assets for a young Red Sox squad.

The details

Gray retired 10 straight batters at one point, escaping a jam in the third inning by striking out Jake Bauers with two runners in scoring position. He finished with 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out two. Gray said he was hoping to pitch into the eighth inning so he could hear 'Sweet Caroline' play between innings, a tradition at Fenway Park, but was still pleased to put the team in a good mood for their upcoming road trip.

  • Gray retired his 10th straight hitter to end the top of the sixth inning.
  • Gray returned for one more out in the seventh inning.

The players

Sonny Gray

A 36-year-old veteran starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who delivered a dominant performance, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings and earning the win.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox who allowed Gray to go back out for one more out in the seventh inning after Gray told him he had 'another zero in him.'

Greg Weissert

The Red Sox relief pitcher who came in and 'shut it down' after Gray faced the first two batters in the seventh inning.

Jake Bauers

The Brewers batter who Gray struck out with two runners in scoring position to escape a jam in the third inning.

Gary Sánchez

The Brewers batter who drew a walk to lead off the seventh inning, ending Gray's day.

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What they’re saying

“I just said that I have another zero in me if you need it. I didn't know where our bullpen really stood or where we were at. I just said, 'I have another zero if you need it.' And he said, 'Are you sure?' And I said, 'Yes.'”

— Sonny Gray, Red Sox Starting Pitcher

“Then in the seventh, he made the decision. I faced the first two and then I came out and Greg (Weissert) came in and shut it down.”

— Sonny Gray, Red Sox Starting Pitcher

“I want to come off and then Sweet Caroline starts playing. So that's something that I'm looking forward to doing at some point.”

— Sonny Gray, Red Sox Starting Pitcher

“I'm old. Maybe. I get up early. I have no problem getting up in the morning and getting going. I'm used to getting up and getting the kids ready and taking them to school and catching them on the bus and I don't mind getting up. Maybe. I'm just old.”

— Sonny Gray, Red Sox Starting Pitcher

“I was just thinking, 'happy flight.' You want to win on getaway day. I watched Beast (Garrett Crochet) last night and then the game was over and it was like, 'OK. It's my turn to just go out there and just keep it going.' ... Just overall, it was a great game last night and then to continue that into today, it was just a good finish to the homestand.”

— Sonny Gray, Red Sox Starting Pitcher

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to continue their strong pitching as they head on the road to face the Cardinals in St. Louis.

The takeaway

Veteran starter Sonny Gray's dominant performance and team-first mentality highlight the Red Sox's recent resurgence, with the experienced hurler setting the tone for a young squad looking to make a playoff push.