MLB roundup: Cardinals' Sonny Gray baffles Giants, Rangers complete sweep

The St. Louis Cardinals secured a three-game series sweep against the San Francisco Giants with a 5-3 victory on Sunday.

Sonny Gray, at 34 years old, delivered an impressive performance by taking a perfect game into the seventh inning. Gray retired the first 20 batters he faced before Giants catcher Patrick Bailey spoiled his bid for perfection with a two-out homer in the seventh.

Despite this, Gray only allowed one hit and one run, striking out eight batters and issuing no walks. Ryan Helsley continued his remarkable streak by converting his 26th consecutive save opportunity.

Alec Burleson played a key role for the Cardinals, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a run. This victory marks the Cardinals' eighth win in their last 11 games, pushing them two games over .500 for the first time since the 2022 season.

On the other hand, the Texas Rangers also completed a three-game series sweep with a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals in Arlington, Texas. Max Scherzer, in his season debut, showcased his dominance by allowing just one hit over five innings.

Scherzer, who had surgery in December and dealt with a nerve issue in his right thumb, last appeared in Game 3 of the World Series last year. Josh Smith contributed to the Rangers' victory by homering for the second consecutive game. Leody Taveras had a solid performance, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

Alec Marsh suffered the loss for the Kansas City Royals, giving up three runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Twins 3, Athletics 0
Pablo Lopez dominated the game, retiring the first 17 batters he faced and pitching eight shutout innings. Byron Buxton contributed with a home run and a double, driving in two runs for Minnesota. The Twins secured their second consecutive victory against the host Oakland Athletics.

Lopez showcased his skills on the mound, recording 14 strikeouts, which matched his career high. He only allowed one walk throughout the game. In the seventh inning, Kyle Farmer added an RBI on a fielder's choice, contributing to Minnesota's two-run inning. Griffin Jax closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning, completing the Twins' fourth shutout of the season.

Unfortunately for Oakland, they were shut out for the eighth time this season. Miguel Andujar managed to get two of the Athletics' three hits, but it wasn't enough to overcome the dominant performance by the Twins' pitching staff.

Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 1
Following his four-year contract extension, left-hander Cristopher Sanchez showcased his talent on the mound, pitching seven scoreless innings for Philadelphia. The Phillies emerged victorious in the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sanchez displayed excellent control, allowing only three hits while striking out four batters without issuing a single walk. He retired the last 11 hitters he faced, solidifying his dominant performance. David Dahl, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm each contributed two hits for Philadelphia, with Dahl driving in two runs with a single.

In the ninth inning, Ketel Marte managed to get an RBI single for Arizona, but they were ultimately outmatched by Philadelphia's strong offensive and pitching display. Diamondbacks starter Slade Cecconi allowed one run on five hits over three innings, but it wasn't enough to secure the victory for his team.