CLEVELAND (AP) \u2014 Sonny Gray allowed only one hit and struck out a season-high 11 for his first complete game since 2017 as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-0 on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Alec Burleson and Pedro Pag\u00e9s homered, and Nolan Arenado had a pair of RBIs for the Cardinals, who bounced back after being shut out in their previous two games.<\/p>\n
It is the seventh complete game of Gray\u2019s 13-year career and the 18th in the majors this season. It is also his fourth career shutout and first since 2015 when he was with the Athletics.<\/p>\n
Gray \u2014 who threw 89 pitches, including 66 strikes \u2014 had double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season and 20th in his career.<\/p>\n
Pag\u00e9s and Burleson lined home runs off Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz (4-9) in the third inning. Pag\u00e9s drove an elevated sinker over the left-field wall to lead off the frame and snap a 24-inning string where the Cardinals had not scored a run. Burleson connected for a two-run shot with two outs.<\/p>\n
The Guardians were blanked for the second straight game. Toronto\u2019s Kevin Gausman threw eight innings of two-hit ball in the Blue Jays 6-0 win<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n Cleveland third baseman Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez was not in the lineup due to a bruised right forearm. <\/p>\n Key moment<\/p>\n Nolan Jones had a base hit to right field with two outs in the fifth which prevented the Guardians\u2019 from being no hit for the fifth time since 2021.<\/p>\n Key stat<\/p>\n After giving up six runs in 4 1\/3 innings in a 6-0 loss at Milwaukee on June 12, Gray has allowed only one run in 14 innings in his last two starts.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n St. Louis RHP Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31 ERA) goes up against Cleveland RHP Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.38). <\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n