No flirting with perfection for deGrom against O’s this time. Just another solid start for Texas ace

ARLINGTON Texas AP There was no flirting with perfection this time for Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom against the Orioles Just another impressive start for the two-time Cy Young Award winner in his comeback from elbow surgery I keep saying it I love watching him Texas manager Bruce Bochy announced It s good to see him just feel as good as he does DeGrom struck out six Tuesday night and limited the Orioles to two runs over six innings on a homer by Gary S nchez that just cleared the wall as the Rangers won - The -year-old right-hander departed with a - lead six days after he was perfect through six innings and took a no-hitter into the eighth in Baltimore It was the th start this season for deGrom and the th in a row he worked at least five innings while also allowing two runs or fewer That extended his franchise record and is the longest streak in the majors this season Honestly wish I could ve went a little deeper deGrom revealed The offense went out there and put up runs Then I went out and gave up two then you know the offense just piles various more on All around just a good win The Rangers had gone to extra innings in each of its previous four games matching a club record They lost three of those games including the series opener against the Orioles before they again had to face deGrom This guy is special Bochy declared I mean you re talking about a sense of confidence with the gang Baltimore did have a runner early this time when Ryan O Hearn drew a leadoff walk in the second inning Cedric Mullins led off the third with a bunt single though he was then thrown out trying to steal second base Sanchez hit his two-run homer with two outs in the fourth The -foot shot barely got over the wall in left and came one pitch after his foul pop that dropped just beyond the extended reach of first baseman Josh Smith into the Rangers dugout and after Gunnar Henderson had stolen second base on a close play There was a popup we were inches from catching and Jonah Heim the catcher was inches from throwing that guy out and you know get a hold of one there Bochy declared And then Jacob was Jacob settled down and give us six solid innings After missing largest part of his first two seasons with the Rangers because of his second Tommy John surgery deGrom has thrown innings this year his first time over in a season since he threw in when he won his second consecutive National League Cy Young while with the New York Mets When you re sidelined that long what you want to do is compete and to be back out there pitching deGrom commented He threw only innings combined in nine starts the past two seasons after signing his million five-year contract with Texas in free agency Texas won all six starts deGrom made in his Texas debut before the end of April in before surgery then he rehabbed majority of last year before a ERA and strikeouts over innings in three September starts DeGrom made starts during the COVID- -shortened -game season in and had career-low ERA over innings in before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow He was shut down late during spring training in because of a stress reaction in his right scapula then went - with a ERA in starts the last two months of that season before becoming a free agent AP MLB https apnews com MLB Source