OAKLAND, Calif. — — Sonny Gray struck out six and didn’t walk a batter over six scoreless innings to beat his former club with career win No. 100, and Willson Contreras doubled twice and drove in a run for the St. Louis Cardinals in their 3-1 win against the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.
Nolan Arenado hit an RBI single in the first to stake Gray (2-0) to an early lead.
Closer Ryan Helsley struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save in a game that lasted 2:19.
OF Tommy Edman (sprained right wrist) started to take dry swings and was set to hit off a tee Tuesday. … RHP Kenyan Middleton has started playing catch in his recovery from a flexor strain in his pitching arm.
RHP Lance Lynn (0-0, 2.63 ERA) pitches the middle game of the series for St. Louis opposite LHP JP Sears (1-1, 5.17), 7:45 with the pregame and the first pitch at 8:40 on KIRX.