St. Louis Cardinals ace Sonny Gray has built a reputation for his grit and leadership. On Monday night, he showed both in an unusual moment after leaving the mound earlier than expected.
Gray was pulled after five innings during the Cardinals’ win over the Washington Nationals, giving up just two runs while striking out six. He threw 86 pitches, but manager Oli Marmol made the call to go to the bullpen. The game also saw a delay of 136 minutes, so the night was even longer for the Cardinals ace.
What stood out wasn’t the early hook. It was what Gray told Marmol before heading to the dugout.
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A surprising message from the veteran
Instead of showing frustration, Gray reportedly told Marmol, “I’m not mad. That was the right move.” The moment, shared by Marmol after the game, showed the kind of trust the veteran right-hander has in his manager and the team’s game plan.
“Sonny came up to me and said, ‘You made the right call,’” Marmol told reporters. “That says a lot about him. He knows we have a plan and he trusted the guys behind him.”
The Cardinals bullpen backed him up, holding the Nationals scoreless over the final four innings to seal a 4-2 victory. Gray improved to 10-4 on the season and lowered his ERA to 3.05.
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For a team that’s had its share of ups and downs this year, the small gesture between pitcher and manager speaks volumes. St. Louis is pushing to stay in the middle of the NL Central race, and team chemistry matters more than ever.
Gray has been consistent all season, and his leadership role has been invaluable. His honesty and self-awareness not only set the tone for his teammates but also gave fans something to appreciate beyond the box score.
Next up, the Cardinals look to build on their momentum as they continue their homestand against the struggling Nationals. The Braves come to town over the weekend.