Gray exits Patriots' Day start early with right hamstring tightness

BOSTON -- It was expected that Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray's day would start early, given that he got the nod in Monday’s annual Patriots' Day game with an 11:10 a.m. start time.

Much less expected was that Gray’s day also ended early. He walked off the mound with what the team later called right hamstring tightness after walking Gleyber Torres with two outs in the top of the third inning in Boston's eventual 8-6 win against the Tigers.

It was unclear what caused the injury, but Gray made a weird flexing motion with his lower body, drawing the attention of the Boston dugout. Manager Alex Cora and trainer Brandon Henry came out to visit him.

After one warmup pitch, Cora appeared to take the decision out of Gray’s hands and pulled him from the game.

Lefty Danny Coulombe entered out of the bullpen for Boston with his Red Sox leading 2-1 at the time. He inherited two baserunners from Gray and stranded them on a groundout.

Gray is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA in his first five starts for the Red Sox. He was the team’s first significant acquisition of the offseason.