SONNY Gray took a perfect game into the seventh inning as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.
Gray (9-4) retired the first 20 batters he faced. Giants’ catcher Patrick Bailey ended the veteran right-hander’s chance at perfection by blasting a two-out homer to right in the seventh. Gray allowed just the one hit and one run, struck out eight and walked none. Ryan Helsley converted his 26th consecutive save opportunity to extend his team-record streak.
Alec Burleson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases and a run for the Cardinals, who have won eight of their past 11 to push two games over .500 for the first time since the 2022 season.
San Francisco starter Logan Webb (6-6) allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
In other games, it was the Rangers 4, Royals 0; Twins 3, Athletics 0; Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 1; Braves 3, Yankees 1; Rays 3, Pirates 1; Guardians 6, Blue Jays 5; Tigers 11, White Sox 2; Red Sox 7, Reds 4; Marlins 6, Mariners 4; Astros 8, Orioles 1; Nationals 2, Rockies 1; Brewers 6, Padres 2; and Mets 5, Cubs 2.
Rangers 4, Royals 0
Max Scherzer allowed just one hit over five innings in his season debut and Josh Smith homered for the second straight game as Texas completed a three-game series sweep with a victory over Kansas City in Arlington, Texas.
Scherzer (1-0) was making his first appearance since starting Game 3 of the World Series last year. He had surgery in December to repair a herniated disc and later experienced a nerve issue in his right thumb. Leody Taveras went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base for the Rangers.
