Major League Baseball

Another gem from Gray adds to A's ace's All-Star Game resume

Published Jun. 15, 2015 10:12 a.m. ET

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Sonny Gray makes it look so easy.

On Sunday, the Oakland Athletics' ace improved his league-low ERA to 1.60 with a dazzling performance, limiting the Los Angeles Angels to one unearned run in 7 2/3 innings of work. 

The start salvaged a game for the A's on the weekend, and further added to Gray's remarkable season so far in 2015. 

At 8-3, Gray is off to his strongest start as a Major Leaguer. As Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area points out, Gray's WHIP is an A.L. - best 0.93, his opponents' batting average is an A.L. - best .194, he's tied for second in wins with eight and is second in innings pitched with 95 1/3.

His success is especially noteworthy given that the A's are still a last-place club with a 26-39 record.

Gray's continued dominance, however, isn't a surprise to catcher Stephen Vogt, who told Stiglich that, "He was just Sonny. He had his A-game stuff. When we give him some runs, he takes them and shuts the other team down…He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball, hands-down. He’s an ace.”

It's hard to argue with Vogt's assessment of Gray as an ace, given his remarkable success this season. His manager, Bob Melvin, is equally impressed with him on the mound, telling Stiglich of his decision to remove Gray on Sunday: "First of all, he doesn’t understand anything when you’re out there. I said, ‘I’m gonna save you some pitches, all right? He said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ Then I pointed to the bullpen and he was like, ‘What are you doing?’ It looked like he was trying to block my hand when I put my hand up."

The A's have played a bit better in recent weeks despite a few hiccups, and it has a lot to do with Gray's leadership. If he has a few more quality starts over the next few weeks, it might be hard to argue against him starting for the American League in the All-Star Game next month...which would really be something, considering where the A's are in the division. 

(h/t CSN Bay Area)

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