Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray, a three-time All-Star, offered a blunt assessment of his performance after a tough outing against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. "They just beat me," Gray stated postgame, summing up a night where he surrendered five earned runs over four innings in a 6-0 loss.

The veteran pitcher was visibly frustrated, acknowledging he didn't have his best command or focus on the mound. "I felt okay. And then, you know, I wasn't," Gray explained. "I couldn't focus as well as I needed to... They beat me, and they beat us. And, you know, I don't like that."

This start was a step back for Gray, who had delivered a strong 6.1-inning win in his previous outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. Through four starts this season, his record stands at 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA.

Gray's struggles are part of a larger trend for the Red Sox rotation early this season. The team's starting staff collectively owns the third-worst ERA (5.27) and WHIP (1.54) in Major League Baseball. Even staff ace Garrett Crochet, last year's AL Cy Young runner-up, has encountered difficulties, posting a 7.58 ERA through his first four starts.

Looking to stop their skid and the Twins' winning streak, the Red Sox will turn to left-hander Connelly Early and his promising 2.63 ERA in Wednesday's matchup.