As a reliever, Sonny Gray had the mindset of the pitcher the Yankees wanted him to be as a reliever.



Nearly a week after the Yankees decided to finally demote Gray to the bullpen after he was lit up by the Orioles at home, he finally had his name called to make the debut in his new role in a game against the White Sox when the Yankees were tied in extras.



He pitched well, getting through a scoreless 11th inning with two strikeouts, then he did not get derailed by a single, a fielder’s choice, and a walk in the scoreless 12th, and after the Yankees took the lead on a single from Miguel Andújar in the 13th, Gray held the game in his team’s favor, retiring the side and striking out two in a row to give the Yankees a 5-4 win.



It salvaged a rebounding start for CC Sabathia, who was inefficient in his 5 2/3 innings against the White Sox, but struck out a season-high 12 batters anyway.



On a fairly sleepy night for the Yankees in their...