ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom struck out 8 over 5 innings Tuesday night in his first start since groin tightness in Seattle. Afterward, Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said the right-hander did not feel 100%.
Texas beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 at Globe Life Field, and deGrom improved to 11-9. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk and threw 53 of his 92 pitches for strikes.
deGrom’s night ended after he worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.
“He gave us everything he had,” Schumaker said. “He did not feel 100%. You could tell, well, I knew earlier that he wasn’t 100%, but the way he attacked them and went about it, he gave us everything he had, and that’s all we could ever ask for.”
“So he also got out of a big jam, bases-loaded jam to end the fifth, and hand it off,” Schumaker continued. “But yeah, our guys are fighting right now, and it’s fun to watch them give everything they got to each other.”
Jacob deGrom Returns Five Days After Groin Tightness In Seattle
On Thursday at T-Mobile Park, deGrom retired the first 15 Seattle Mariners he faced and struck out 12 over 6 scoreless innings. His groin tightened when he ran to cover first base on a fourth-inning ground ball. He told the Rangers he was fine and stayed in the game. He left after 92 pitches with a 3-0 lead, and Seattle won 4-3.
On Monday, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young called that game the most painful loss of the season for him.
Texas never placed deGrom on the injured list. On Saturday, Schumaker said deGrom might skip his bullpen session between starts. A mild left glute strain cost deGrom the July 12 finale against the Houston Astros.
Through 29 starts, deGrom has 194 strikeouts in 154 1/3 innings and a 3.79 ERA. Last season, he went 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA and was voted American League Comeback Player of the Year.
Boston Red Sox Load the Bases Without a Hit in the Fifth
Boston’s runs came in the third. No. 9 hitter Nick Sogard hit a two-run home run to right, scoring Caleb Durbin.
In the fifth, deGrom hit Jarren Duran with a pitch. Another batter reached on catcher’s interference charged to Danny Jansen, and Boston drew a two-out walk. Adley Rutschman grounded out to end the inning.
Texas already led 4-0 by then. Elias Díaz and Corey Seager each drove in two runs with two outs in the second. Four relievers covered the final 4 innings without allowing a run.
When the teams met June 13 at Fenway Park, deGrom allowed 6 hits and no walks over 6 innings with 5 strikeouts, MLB.com reported. Boston won that game 6-3.
MacKenzie Gore starts Wednesday against Red Sox rookie left-hander Jake Bennett. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
