BOSTON -- Instead of answering the bell for the slumping A's, ace right-hander Sonny Gray was left searching for answers after another loss Monday.
Gray allowed a career-worst seven runs for the second straight start, and the A's surrendered a season-high in runs for the second straight game in a 14-7 defeat to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.Gray (3-4) lasted 32/3 innings and allowed eight hits. He has lost three straight starts and has allowed 18 earned runs in 122/3 innings over that span. His ERA, which was a career-worst 4.84 at the start of the game, is now 6.00.The two-time 14-game winner admitted this might be the worst stretch of his baseball career at any level, and he can't explain the reasons at this point. He said he's feeling great health-wise.
"This is obviously the toughest three-game stretch I've ever went through. So I don't know," Gray said. "I'm going to have to sit down tomorrow and start trying to figure some stuff out now. I still feel great and everything. It's just leaving the ball up and out over the middle of the plate constantly. And it's just not going well."
His ERA and WHIP have never matched the peripheral stats. Some pitchers can beat their expected numbers for awhile, but Gray has been a popular bust candidate the last 2 years. Don't get me wrong, he is solid, but probably more SP4 than SP2 based on his ability.