The Boston Red Sox avoided a sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers on Thursday night thanks to a 4-3 win that was powered by an eighth-inning, go-ahead, three-run home run off the bat of shortstop Trevor Story. While Story's big swing was undoubtedly the story of the game, Boston was in position to win because of Sonny Gray’s fantastic start, a start that saw him join Red Sox Hall of Famer Tim Wakefield in the history books. 

Gray tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just three earned runs on three hits while striking out six and walking three. According to Red Sox Nation Stats on Twitter/X, Gray became the first pitcher aged 36 or older to log 21 or more starts of six or more innings pitched since Wakefield did so in 2008. 

Gray has been nothing short of a revelation since arriving in Boston on an offseason deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 36-year-old veteran was brought in, in part, to be the “Robin” to Garrett Crochet’s “Batman.” However, because of the shoulder injury that has kept Crochet out of the rotation since late April, Gray has served as “Batman” just as well as the 2025 American League Cy Young Award runner-up could have. 

In Crochet’s absence, Gray has posted a 2.57 ERA in 23 starts, spanning 140 innings pitched. The team has gone 17-6 in those starts. Not only has Gray been Boston’s best starter since the Crochet injury, but he’s also been one of the best arms in baseball in the stretch, with his ERA ranking as the sixth-lowest mark over that time.

Overall, Gray has posted a 2.82 ERA that ranks fifth best among all American League starters, doing it in 163 innings with an fWAR of 3.2 that sits just outside the top 10 at No. 11. Perhaps most importantly, even when the 36-year-old veteran doesn’t have his best stuff, he keeps the team in a position to win, as was evident on Thursday night. 

When Gray was first acquired, many questioned whether he could still be a top of the rotation arm. Now, after answering those questions with a season that’ll likely see him finish top five in American League Cy Young Award voting, the only question that remains is whether he’ll return for 2027 and beyond. 

After dropping two of three in Texas, the Red Sox' final regular-season road trip rolls on as they open a three-game series at Tropicana Field against the likely American League East champion Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Ranger Suarez (7-4, 3.33 ERA) gets the start for Boston opposite Ian Seymour (9-6, 4.27 ERA) for Tampa Bay. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.