A’s Sonny Gray leaves early with hip problem
Sonny Gray did a terrific job of settling down after an early homer by Matt Duffy on Friday, but left hip soreness knocked the A’s right-hander out after six innings.
Gray said he had some hip tightness last week at Houston and the soreness continued this week.
“The sixth inning, those pitches to (Marlon) Byrd were pressure pitches and I might have been amped a little too much,” Gray said.
Gray and manager Bob Melvin said they expect to know more in the next two days.
Considering Gray’s importance to the club and the number of extra pitchers on the roster in September, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team decided to shut him down the rest of the way rather than risk any potential injury.
After Duffy’s homer, Gray retired 11 of the next 12 batters.
Gray struck out seven, his highest total since Aug. 2, while earning his 14th win, matching his career high.
In his previous two starts, Gray surrendered 12 runs in 81/3 innings, and in his first four September starts, he’d allowed 18 runs in 201/3 innings.
Right-hander Edward Mujica, out two weeks with a hamstring strain, said he expects to be available out of the bullpen Saturday.
“I like it here, I like this group and I like the coaching staff,” he said.
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Longtime PA announcer Roy Steele was on hand Friday, as was former A’s outfielder Jose Canseco.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Curt Young had Barry Zito and Tim Hudson in the rotation in 2004, when he was the A’s rookie pitching coach.