Jacob deGrom has been outstanding this season in his return from Tommy John surgery. On Wednesday, he showed the Baltimore Orioles the stuff that made him a two-time Cy Young winner.
DeGrom pitched seven no-hit innings against Baltimore to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-0 win. Manager Bruce Bochy left him on the mound for the eighth inning with a chance to keep the no-hitter going, but the bid ended with a leadoff single from Colton Cowser.
DeGrom’s night was over at 89 pitches, and the Rangers bullpen took the shutout home.
While he didn’t secure the no-hitter, there was plenty to like about the 37-year-old’s effort. DeGrom entered the seventh inning with a perfect game before he allowed a pair of walks. Those and Cowser’s single were the only baserunners deGrom allowed, and Cowser’s single was Baltimore’s only hit of the game.
DeGrom had his best stuff going Wednesday, including a sweeping changeup that bewildered Baltimore’s rising star second baseman, Jackson Holliday.
DeGrom’s fastball sat in the high 90s, and his slider produced repeated swinging strikes. When his night was finished, he’d allowed one hit, two walks and zero runs. He struck out seven and lowered his season ERA from 2.24 to 2.08.
It’s the type of stuff the Rangers envisioned when they signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. Disaster struck when deGrom required Tommy John surgery for the second time just six games into his Rangers career.
Now that he’s back, deGrom is looking very much like the pitcher who earned that $185 million deal.
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