St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray and Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt have been close friends for 12 years, dating back to their time as roommates with Triple-A Sacramento.
The teams’ weekend series in Cleveland has given them the opportunity to catch up.
It continues Saturday when St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31 ERA) takes on Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.38) in a battle of right-handers.
“Vogty and I have so many memories together in this game, it’s kind of neat the way this game goes full circle,” said Gray, who allowed just one hit and struck out 11 in the Cardinals’ 5-0 win on Friday.
“I mean, we babysat each other’s kids. I threw his oldest in a swimming pool (in spring training). Our oldest boys grew up together.
“That’s why I looked over to where he stands in the dugout right before the first pitch. He was looking at me, too, and I gave him a head nod.”
Vogt also knows Gray’s skills better than anyone in baseball, having been behind the plate with him on the mound more times than anyone else in the latter’s career.
The former Oakland Athletics teammates also shared the dugout as selections to the 2015 All-Star Game.
“I always root for him, except for tonight,” Vogt said. “Our families are close and he was a good friend, as well as a teammate. Sonny Gray has been really good in this league for a really long time. He’s one of my favorites.”
Gray’s dominant performance left the Guardians searching for answers after being blanked for the second game in a row. The right-hander came within one pitch of throwing a perfect game, allowing a two-strike single to Nolan Jones in the fifth inning.
Jones was the lone baserunner on the evening in Gray’s 89-pitch masterpiece.
“I gave Sonny a fist-bump before the first pitch and I shook his hand after the game,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said, chuckling. “That was all. No other communication. There was no need to.
“At no point was there a stressful inning or even a thought about getting someone else up. It was fun to watch.”
Mikolas is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against Cleveland, while Cecconi will face the Cardinals for the first time in his three-year career.
The Guardians unlikely are to have All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez in the lineup for a second straight game. Ramirez has a bruised right arm, courtesy of a hit by pitch from Toronto’s Kevin Gausman on Thursday.
Vogt was upset with the Blue Jays for Gausman’s perceived intentional aim, which was in retaliation for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being hit by pitches twice in their series.
Following back-to-back losses by a combined 11-0 score, Cleveland is now 40-40.
The Guardians had twice as many errors as hits on both Thursday (4-2) and Friday (2-1), prompting them to hold a players-only meeting while Vogt was conducting his postgame press conference.
“We’re not having a lot of fun right now,” Cleveland third baseman Daniel Schneemann said, apparently choosing his words carefully. “Maybe we’re doing too much, instead of staying within ourselves.”
Designated hitter David Fry, who is batting .150 after making the American League All-Star team last season, was more straightforward.
“We just need to play better,” he said.
–Field Level Media
