Lawrence Butler's leadoff single in the second was the only Athletics hit Jacob deGrom allowed. A double play erased him. The next 19 batters did not reach base.
deGrom worked seven shutout innings Monday night at Globe Life Field, struck out eight, walked none, and faced the minimum 21 hitters as the Texas Rangers beat the Athletics 8-1, the Associated Press reported. He improved to 10-9. ESPN's pitching line matches: 7.0 innings, one hit, no runs, no walks, eight strikeouts on 85 pitches, 56 strikes. Texas is 68-70. The Athletics fell to 53-85.
Bounce-back after Chicago
The outing followed one of deGrom's worst starts in the majors. Last Tuesday at the Chicago White Sox, the AP said he matched career highs by allowing six runs in the first inning and eight total in 3 2/3 innings. Monday he threw strikes early, mixed the fastball and slider, and never let a second runner on.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner is 7-2 at home this season with a 2.42 ERA, compared with 3-7 and a 5.86 ERA on the road, per the AP. In his previous home start he allowed one hit over six shutout innings against Washington and matched a season high with 10 strikeouts. Monday's one-hitter over seven was the same shape without the double-digit strikeout total.
ESPN lists deGrom's ground-ball to fly-ball ratio at 6-6. CBS Sports' box has it 7-4. Both boxes agree on the headline numbers: one hit, zero walks, eight strikeouts, win No. 10.
How Texas built the lead
Brandon Nimmo set the table against left-hander Gage Jump. He led off the second with a swinging-bunt single that Jump bobbled, scored on Elias Díaz's groundout, and watched Cody Freeman single Jake Burger home for a 2-0 lead. Nimmo singled Corey Seager home in the third.
Justin Foscue led off the fourth with a home run ESPN measured at 417 feet to left-center, his 10th of the season according to the AP and ESPN's box, making it 4-0.
