Veteran right-hander sharp in final tune-up as World Baseball Classic standout sparks late rally.
The Boston Red Sox are starting to look ready for games that count.
With Opening Day just days away, Boston wrapped up one of its most encouraging all-around performances of the spring in a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday - a game that offered a little bit of everything the club has been waiting to see.
Most notably, it featured the version of Sonny Gray the Red Sox believe they’re getting in 2026.
Gray, who is slated to slot in near the top of Boston’s rotation, delivered his sharpest outing of the spring in his final tune-up.
The veteran right-hander carved through Pittsburgh’s lineup across six innings, striking out nine batters without issuing a walk while mixing seven different pitches with precision.
After a somewhat uneven spring on paper, Gray looked every bit like a pitcher ready to take the ball when it matters.
“I had no concerns, and I have no concerns,” Gray told the media postgame. “I’ll be ready to go game two.”
More than the stat line, it was the feel of the outing that stood out. Gray admitted he could sense the shift as the regular season approaches.
“I felt it today,” said Gray. “I get chills now [thinking about it]. I felt it again. That’s what we’re always chasing.”
Offensively, Boston found life late.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, the Red Sox erupted for a four-run rally to flip the game, sparked by Masataka Yoshida. After missing most of spring training while playing in the World Baseball Classic - and entering Sunday hitless in Grapefruit League play - Yoshida delivered in a big way, ripping two doubles and driving in a pair of runs, including the go-ahead hit.
The performance was a timely reminder of what Yoshida can bring when healthy, especially after showing signs of life late last season following shoulder surgery.
There were also glimpses of what’s ahead beyond just individual performances.
Boston’s pitching looked composed, the offense showed resilience, and even the new ABS challenge system made its presence felt in key late-game moments.
It wasn’t perfect.
But with one final spring game remaining, the Red Sox are starting to look like a team rounding into form at exactly the right time.
Mar 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida (7) celebrates after hitting a two run home run against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.