Sonny Gray Becomes First Cardinal since Adam Wainwright to Accomplish Rare Feat

With this performance, Gray becomes the first Cardinal to throw a Maddux since Adam Wainwright did so against the Pirates  in 2021. Wainwright was the first Cardinals pitcher to accomplish the feat since his good friend Chris Carpenter did it in 2011.

Wainwright beat out Gray's pitch count by a singular pitch, only needing 88 to get through all nine innings.

Although it's a rarity in today's game, Gray isn't the first Cardinal to toss a complete game shutout this year. Fellow veteran right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde went the distance without allowing a run on June 9 in a 10-0 win over the Nationals.

Gray was asked after the game if he ever thought he'd throw a Maddux. 

His response (in typical Sonny Gray fashion):

"I never even thought about it. I do like him, so that's pretty cool."

Arguably the best performance of his career, it was Gray's fifth-ever complete-game shutout and first since 2015.

His one blemish on the night came in the fifth inning when he surrendered a two-out single to Guardians right fielder Nolan Jones.

Gray is now 8-2 on the year with a 3.36 ERA. He is next scheduled to pitch on Wednesday against the Pirates.