Starter (stahr-ter), noun, meaning: a competitor who starts in a race or contest.

A highly anticipated start for the Oakland A’s went to right-handed starter Sonny Gray Saturday against the Blue Jays.  Let’s take a look and see how he did.

Oakland’s first round pick in the 2011 draft allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings.  Gray managed to get five strikeouts even after giving a two-run bomb to slugger Jose Bautista, his 27th bomb of the season, in the first inning (you can’t get too mad about that Sonny, it simply means you threw a strike). 

The 23 year-old’s family could not make it to his MLB debut due to not having passports.  However, they would have been proud of Gray.  Melvin was also impressed with Sonnny’s performance.  He did receive a loss,  despite Josh Reddick’s two homer uns starting his big league record as 0-1,  but  he did his job on the bump.

In Gray’s two  MLB appearances last month, he pitched four scoreless innings of relief. 

Sonny stays on the A’s roster, a well deserved spot for him.

In Triple-A Sacramento, Gray threw for 118 strikeouts, a 3.423 ERA in 118.1 innings pitched.  Oakland fans are thrilled to have him staying in green and gold, and he is scheduled for his next start against Houston Thursday.