OAKLAND -- Looking to get their second half started right behind their ace, the A’s instead got a most uncharacteristic outing from Sonny Gray.
The All-Star right-hander surrendered his first career grand slam and was tagged for five runs as the A’s lost 5-0 Friday to open a three-game series at the Coliseum.
Had Gray flashed his usual form, it may not have mattered anyway. The A’s offered little resistance against longtime nemesis Ervin Santana, who held them to five hits over 7 2/3 innings. Santana came in with a 2.12 career ERA against Oakland but hadn’t faced the A’s since 2013.