Jacob deGrom Dominates as Texas Rangers Defeat Baltimore Orioles 7-0

Jacob deGrom took the mound Wednesday night, and for the Texas Rangers, it was a reminder of why they consider him the best pitcher in baseball when he's at his peak.

Returning from Tommy John surgery in June 2023, the two-time Cy Young Award winner displayed his vintage form, flirting with perfection through six innings and maintaining a no-hitter until the eighth.

After throwing 89 pitches, deGrom was pulled following a hit by Colton Cowser that broke up his no-hit bid. The Rangers secured a 7-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, marking deGrom's 13th consecutive start allowing two or fewer earned runs, tying his career-best streak.

"When you miss that much time, you miss this a lot," deGrom reflected. "You have time to really think about what you've done in your career. The goal is to come back and be as good as I was before the surgery, so I'm constantly working on that."

In the seventh inning, deGrom walked Jackson Holliday but quickly regained control, striking out Jordan Westburg and inducing a flyout from Gunnar Henderson. A walk to Ryan O'Hearn led to a mound visit, but deGrom managed to escape the jam by getting Gary Sánchez to ground into a force-out.

Facing 24 batters, deGrom's efficiency was evident; he threw 59 of his 89 pitches for strikes. Manager Bruce Bochy noted that deGrom was performing well and had plans to let him continue his no-hit pursuit, although the team has been cautious with his pitch count, typically limiting him to around 80 pitches per game.

"The first guy that got a hit was far enough," Bochy commented. "We had a nice lead, and he's so fun to watch. I’m a fan when he’s pitching."

Catcher Jonah Heim praised deGrom's command, stating he was able to throw all four pitches for strikes effortlessly. "That's the best I've ever seen him since he came over here," Heim said. "Really encouraging to see; I'm proud of him for all the work he's put in to get here."

In his third season with Texas, deGrom is living up to expectations after signing a five-year, $185 million contract. With an 8-2 record and 16 starts this season, he has rebounded impressively after being limited to just nine games over the previous two seasons.

Despite the disappointment of not finishing the no-hitter, deGrom expressed his enjoyment of the game. "It was just fun to be out there," he said.