Sonny Gray's scoreless series ends with a winning effort

CINCINNATI – Sonny Gray's impressive series of heats was broken, but his fantastic debut for the Reds was not.
Gray brilliantly pitched Tuesday in a 3-2 win over the Padres at Great American Ball Park. During his six innings, he gave a deserved point on four hits.

CINCINNATI – Sonny GrayThe impressive series of sleeves without points was broken, but not his fantastic debut for the Reds.

Gray brilliantly pitched Tuesday in a 3-2 win over the Padres at Great American Ball Park. In his six heats, he conceded a earned run on four hits, three walks and 10 strikeouts. Gray's 23-game winning streak was marked by two outs in the sixth when Josh Naylor tattooed on a 1-2 run for a home run in the center of the field.

• The score of the box

"I was a little stubborn on the ground. I think I've shaken five times to get to that fastball, "Gray said. "I think it deserved to be hit for a home run. It was fun, but I just have to keep going. "

In his last 10 starts, Gray is 6-1 with a 1.58 ERA and his overall record improves to 9-6 with a 2.92 ERA.

After conceding two straight singles in the first run, Gray escaped with two strikeouts and retired with 15 of the next 16 batters. The problem in this stretch was a four-length walk to Greg Garcia with one on the third. Naylor then blew a ground ball for the first base that Statcast followed with an exit speed of 115.1 mph. Substitute Joey Votto, injured, Josh VanMeter quickly grabbed the ball and began a double game ending the round, with Gray at first base.

"I surprised myself even on that one. This ball was crushed, "said VanMeter, who was 2-for-4 with two points scored. "I had to go and check how hard he hit. It was a big game. I'm glad Sonny was able to take cover and finish the game. "

In the fourth and fifth innings, Gray scored five strikeouts. He often led with his fastball and, although the San Diego hitter was tied when he was in contact with her (average speed of 106.1 mph), Gray won five swings-and- misses, nine free kicks and 10 unheated balls from his heater.

Sonny Gray is 9-2 with a 2.45 in his last 17 starts! ?#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/5SGfxKMLY7

– Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 21, 2019

After Naylor's run, Gray found himself in a stalemate when Manny Machado hit a single and Eric Hosmer and Francisco Mejia headed for goals to charge bases in sixth. Manager David Bell had Robert Stephenson getting ready, but the skipper stayed with Gray.

"I've somehow lost my fastball order," Gray said. "I did not stop pulling, missing in the left handed, then missing. I was perhaps trying to do the perfect pitch instead of attacking it.

After a 2-0 win at Manuel Margot, Gray's 105th and final throw ended with a flyout for center fieldman Nick Senzel.

"He was rather gassed there. It was not easy, but he escaped, Bell said. "He's such a good pitcher. I wanted to give him every chance to get out of it. He had a hard time getting out of it.

Gray and Monday's starter, Trevor Bauer (11km), are the Reds' first starters to play ten draws since Gary Nolan and Jim Maloney in 1968. The Elias Sports Bureau noted that it's only a matter of time. There had not been three. Cincinnati since at least 1900. This could change in the final of Wednesday's series when Luis Castillo recovers the ball. Castillo has played three playoff games at least 10 times this season and six career times.

"There is talent, of course. The guys who know how to throw. It's fun, "said Gray. "[The five starters] we all try to share our ideas as much as possible and we try to be present for each other, to watch each other and to be available to each other as much as possible. We want to get better. All of us. It's a fun and friendly competition, that's for sure.

Gray's no-points series is tied for the second-biggest in the leagues in 2019, and the longest for a Reds pitcher since reliever JJ Hoover recorded 26 1/3 innings in 2013. The latest starting pitcher Cincinnati has experienced such stretching since 1990, when Tom Browning also recorded 23 consecutive scoreless innings.

"I just did not want to talk about it and see what was going on until I left that circuit there," Gray said. "Then I talked about it a bit. I was aware, of course. I was just trying to keep going as long as possible and I'm trying to start again now. "

Gray received the support he needed at the bottom of the sixth when VanMeter opened the scoring with a single and Freddy Galvis hit a high ball that was flying just enough to cross the left-field barrier for a two-run homer giving him a new career high. 21 for the season. It also allowed Gray to line up to win.

"He was amazing. I like watching it pitch, "said VanMeter. "He goes out and competes and throws with fire. It's fun to watch. It somehow erases others and makes us leave. "