fortworthweekly.news chose Jacob deGrom for Ace of the Night after he reached 2,000 career strikeouts and started a combined one-hitter in the Texas Rangers' 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals.
MLB.com's recap put the milestone in the first inning at Globe Life Field, with deGrom tipping his cap after striking out Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz. The Associated Press noted he needed two strikeouts to reach the mark and collected both before Washington had a ball in play.
ESPN's box score recorded the start as six innings, one hit, no runs, one walk, 10 strikeouts, 94 pitches, and 60 strikes. His record moved to 9-8 and his ERA to 3.77 on that board. He finished with 2,008 career strikeouts, per the AP.
Combined one-hitter
Brady House's second-inning single was the game's only hit against deGrom, ESPN and the AP agree, and House also drew the only walk. Jake Junis, Chase Silseth, and Jacob Latz completed the one-hitter. Latz earned his 25th save with a hitless ninth that included three strikeouts and one walk, the AP and ESPN show. The AP called it Texas' 12th shutout of the season.
Thin offense, thick pitching
Corey Seager homered in the third. Nicky Lopez's sacrifice fly in the eighth scored Ezequiel Duran after a triple. ESPN had Texas 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. That gap is why Denison's Ace file stays on the mound.
MLB.com placed deGrom second all-time in fewest games to 2,000 strikeouts (272) and fewest innings (1,661). Manager Skip Schumaker, quoted by MLB.com, called it vintage deGrom after a triceps scare had ended deGrom's Aug. 13 start. The Dallas Morning News and ESPN listed Texas at 63-65, tied for the AL's third wild-card spot.
