Sonny Gray's scoreless start powers Red Sox to 1-0 win over Guardians

Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald on Sep 23, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox pulled off a 1-0 series-evening win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night, despite the ongoing dearth of situational hitting that has plagued them for the last two weeks.

Boston batters tallied 12 hits, but went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base in eight innings.

Fortunately for the home team, Sonny Gray was on form in his final start of the regular season. The veteran right-hander tossed six shutout innings, with four hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

Gray’s sixth scoreless start of at least six innings this season tied his single-season high first set in 2015 and matched in 2025. He is the first Red Sox pitcher to make at least six such starts in his age-36 season or older since Luis Tiant in 1977, and only the fourth in franchise history (also Cy Young, Lefty Grove).

Though Gray’s pitch count sat at 77 (52 for strikes) after the sixth and the game remained scoreless, manager Chad Tracy went to his bullpen. With Boston’s postseason ticket punched on Sunday, the short hook could suggest Gray is getting the ball for Game 1 of the wild-card series on Tuesday.

Cleveland southpaw Foster Griffin was not nearly as adept at keeping the Red Sox off the diamond. He struck out seven and issued no walks, but yielded 10 hits in six innings of one-run ball.

Save for Jarren Duran’s leadoff single and Andruw Monasterio’s two-out RBI single in the sixth, the Red Sox bailed Griffin out every time. They were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position through his six innings. Their nine men left on base during Griffin’s start included multiple in four of the first five frames and bases-loaded in the third.

Tyron Guerrero, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman, Boston’s elite bullpen trio all season long, ensured the slim lead held until the end with a scoreless inning apiece.

Duran, who replaced Ceddanne Rafaela in center field in the top of the third, led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. His subsequent steal of second made 2026 his second career season with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases (also 2024). Duran, Mookie Betts and Jackie Jensen are the only players in franchise history with multiple 20-20 seasons.

Cleveland threatened against Whitlock in an eighth inning that saw both teams run out of ABS challenges. No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio led off with a single, and Whitlock issued a one-out walk to third baseman José Ramírez before getting an inning-ending double play from designated hitter Chase DeLauter.

After the Red Sox stranded Duran in the bottom of the eighth, Chapman took the mound for the first time since Sept. 13. Boston’s All-Star closer was back in top form after being day-to-day with lat tightness. He struck out the side, Jo Adell, and pinch hitters Angel Martínez and Angel Genao on 12 pitches.

The Red Sox are 85-73 with four games left to play.