MLB veteran Sonny Gray reaches 15 wins for first time as Red Sox blank Pirates

With a 4-0 Red Sox win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh Saturday night, 14-year MLB veteran Sonny Gray is a 15-game winner for the first time.

The Red Sox right-hander reached new heights by blanking the Pirates for seven innings, holding down one of the most productive offenses in baseball long enough for his scuffling teammates to find themselves at the plate.

Gray has been nothing short of tremendous for the Red Sox, who acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals early in the offseason. He owns a 2.65 ERA over 23 starts, with 117 strikeouts across 132 2/3 innings. He is the first American League pitcher to reach 15 wins, tying Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez for the most in MLB this season.

Boston’s batters had several opportunities against Pirates starter Jared Jones, including runners on second and third with one out in the top of the third, and again with no outs in the fourth. None came home.

The only run on the board through eight innings was Wilyer Abreu’s career-high tying 22nd home run of the season. His 11 homers since the All-Star break are the most in the majors. Abreu later tallied two doubles to bring his season two-bagger total to 27.

Jones needed 32 pitches to complete the fourth, but as if buoyed by escaping back-to-back jams, finished his night with a rapid eight-pitch 1-2-3 fifth.

Fortunately, the Red Sox had Gray at his best. The veteran right-hander tossed a sterling seven scoreless innings on 86 pitches (56 strikes).

The Pirates didn’t put multiple men on base against Gray until Jake Mangum and Rafael Flores Jr. singled back-to-back with one out in the bottom of the fifth. The veteran Red Sox starter struck out Jared Triolo, then loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk to Spencer Horwitz. Every stranded Boston baserunner loomed large in that moment, but Gray dialed in and struck out Brandon Lowe to end the inning.

Gray held down the fort against one of the most productive offenses in baseball, holding them to six hits, one walk, and striking out seven. He completed two innings on no more than five pitches. Saturday marked his fifth start of at least seven innings this season.

Pirates righty reliever Wilber Dotel continued serving up opportunities. The Red Sox wasted his leadoff walks to Adley Rutschman and Caleb Durbin in the sixth and seventh, respectively.

Ceddanne Rafaela doubled off left-hander Gregory Soto and advanced to third on an error by right fielder Ronny Simon with one-out in the eighth. That, too, was for naught, but lefty Erik Miller, one of Boston’s trade deadline additions, pitched a scoreless eighth inning to maintain his new team’s slim lead.

Ninth innings have been a productive time for Boston batters of late (though often in losses). Abreu led off with his second double of the game, a 402-footer off righty Luke Weaver that nearly left PNC Park. It looked like another wasteful situation when Durbin reached on a fielder’s choice out that erased Abreu at third.

But ninth time was the charm. Jarren Duran singled to left, and Andruw Monasterio’s 22nd double scored both base runners. Jahmai Jones pushed the lead to four with an RBI single.

The Red Sox have scored nine of their last 21 runs in ninth innings.

Rafaela was incensed after striking out to end the top of the ninth. He tossed several pieces of equipment on the ground in frustration before veteran teammate Willson Contreras emerged from the dugout, put his arm around him and appeared to calm him almost instantly.

Veteran closer Aroldis Chapman took the mound for the ninth even though the game became a non-save situation as he warmed in the visitors bullpen during the top of the inning. The All-Star lefty had not worked much of late, as the Red Sox entered Saturday with six losses in their previous seven games.