Sonny Gray was back to his best at a key moment for the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-hander pitched seven near-perfect innings and was key in a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. With this victory, the Cardinals not only won their fifth consecutive victory, but also returned to .500 in their overall record, something that had not happened for weeks. The Pirates, on the other hand, continue their free fall and have now lost seven in a row.
Gray's work made a big difference in this game. After three difficult outings, in which he had failed to win and his effectiveness had skyrocketed, the starter found his rhythm. The Pirates were barely able to hit two hits against him and could not find a way to hurt him, despite having late opportunities.
Gray's Absolute Dominance
Sonny Gray was solid from the first pitch. He maintained control over his pitching, mixed his repertoire well and limited Pittsburgh's opportunities to a minimum. He finished his work with eight strikeouts, only one base on balls and, most notably, no runs allowed.
This performance marked his first win since mid-April, something he and the coaching staff badly needed. Gray had been unlucky in his last few starts, where hitters had punished him with ease. But against the Pirates, he was once again the dominant pitcher the Cardinals were betting on.
The game plan was clear: attack the strike zone early and avoid prolonged shifts. It worked perfectly. In addition, his defense was precise behind him, which helped the pace of the game stay in his favor. In this way, Gray consolidates himself as a key piece in the St. Louis rotation, especially in a week where the team is looking to assert itself in the standings.
Offense Responded When Necessary
While Gray took the lead, the Cardinals' offense did its part as well. With a timely attack, the team built an early lead and was able to extend it without going overboard. Masyn Winn was one of the standout performers, connecting on two double producers that made the difference at key moments.
Lars Nootbaar also had three hits, while young Victor Scott II managed to score twice from first base, showing speed and intelligence on the basepaths. It was those little details that separated the Cardinals from their opponents in this game.
In the eighth inning, Jordan Walker was in charge of sealing the score with a single that drove in two more runs, giving the bullpen peace of mind and leaving the visiting team without hope. The timely hitting has been an irregular point this season for St. Louis, but against the Pirates, it showed up when it was most needed.
Pittsburgh Does Not Lift Its Head
The Pirates are going through one of their worst moments of the season. The loss to the Cardinals was their eighth shutout of the year and seventh consecutive loss, reflecting the difficulties they are having both in pitching and offense. Mitch Keller, their starter, worked for more than six innings, but received no offensive support and defensive errors allowed the difference to widen.
The team only managed to connect only four hits in the entire game, without being able to string together innings that put the opposing pitching in real trouble. Even when they put runners in scoring position in the eighth, they were unable to capitalize. Kyle Leahy, who relieved Gray, struck out Bryan Reynolds and retired Andrew McCutchen on a crucial play to preserve the shutout.
In addition, several of the team's big names, such as Oneil Cruz and Ke'Bryan Hayes, were completely overpowered. Each struck out twice, evidencing the contact issues plaguing the lineup in general. This loss leaves them with a 12-26 record, one of the worst in the National League.
The last stop on the way to Munich! 🏆
Will Arsenal win or will PSG go through? 🏴 🇫🇷
Don't miss this great game ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/T6BSuuAwFA
- Betcris (@Betcris) May 7, 2025
What's Next for Both Teams
With this victory, the Cardinals close a positive series and now prepare to begin a nine-game road trip starting in Washington. The team hopes to maintain this momentum and take advantage of the good momentum of its rotation to climb positions in the Central Division.
For their part, the Pirates return home to host the Braves. It will be a difficult test, especially if they fail to adjust their offense and offer more resistance from the mound. The margin for error is already very short for Pittsburgh, which needs to get back to winning ways before the season slips away completely.
St. Louis, meanwhile, is celebrating the big return of its star star starter. With Gray pitching like he did tonight, the Cardinals can aspire to more than just staying in contention. The team has started to play with more conviction, and if they can get consistency both on the mound and at bat, they could become a serious contender in their division.
