Sonny Gray's one-hitter stunned the Guardians in a 5-0 Cardinals win on June 27, 2025. Triston McKenzie took the loss as Cleveland's June slump worsens.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
There are tough losses, and then there's what happened Friday night. The Cleveland Guardians didn't just lose to the St. Louis Cardinals; they were surgically dismantled by former AL Central rival Sonny Gray, who spun a masterful complete-game one-hitter. The 5-0 defeat was a gut punch that perfectly encapsulated a frustrating June, leaving fans wondering where the offense has gone and when it might return.
Sonny Gray threw a complete game one-hitter, striking out 11 Guardians batters for his first complete game since 2017.
From the first pitch, it was The Sonny Gray Show. The Cardinals' ace was simply unhittable, carving through the Guardians lineup with ease and racking up 11 strikeouts. Cleveland's bats were silent, mustering just a single baserunner all night. It was a vintage performance for Gray, marking his first complete game since 2017 and leaving the home crowd stunned. On the other side, Triston McKenzie battled but couldn't keep St. Louis off the board, surrendering four runs over five innings, including homers to Alec Burleson and Pedro Pagés, to take the loss.
This wasn't just a one-night anomaly; it was the continuation of a deeply concerning trend. The loss drops the Guardians to a dismal 9-13 record in June, their worst month of the season by far. The offense has gone cold, contributing to a -14 run differential for the month and dragging the team's overall record to a precarious 40-39. With the season now past its midpoint, the team is hovering just above .500, a far cry from the promising start that had fans dreaming big.
With no immediate roster changes on the horizon to shake things up, fans might find some solace by looking at the future. While the big-league club struggles, the Guardians' farm system remains a beacon of hope. Catcher Cooper Ingle, the reigning High-A Midwest League MVP, is a name to watch as he rockets up prospect rankings. He, along with top draftee Travis Bazzana and a stable of promising young arms, represents the next wave. It's a reminder that while the present may be frustrating, the foundation for future success is still being built.
One game doesn't define a season, but this loss feels heavier. It's a wake-up call. The Guardians have to find a way to snap out of this offensive funk, and fast. They'll get another crack at the Cardinals tomorrow, and the pressure is mounting to not only win the series but to show some sign of life at the plate. June is almost over, but the problems it has exposed will follow the team into July unless something changes.
