fortworthweekly.news chose Jacob deGrom for Ace of the Night, Melissa's shorter path into Thursday's 2-0 Rangers win at Globe Life Field.
ESPN's box score: six innings, one hit, zero runs, one walk, 10 strikeouts, 94 pitches, 60 strikes, win No. 9 against eight losses, ERA 3.77. MLB.com timed the 2,000th career strikeout in the first inning after punchouts of Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz.
The Associated Press said he needed two strikeouts for the milestone and got both before a Nationals ball in play, finishing with 2,008 career Ks.
House's single, then silence
Brady House singled in the second and also drew deGrom's only walk, ESPN and the AP report - the only hit of a combined one-hitter finished by Jake Junis, Chase Silseth, and Jacob Latz. Latz's 25th save was a hitless ninth with three strikeouts and one walk. The AP counted Texas' 12th shutout.
MLB.com ranked the 2,000-K pace second in fewest games (272) and fewest innings (1,661). Skip Schumaker called it vintage deGrom in MLB.com's story after deGrom had left his Aug. 13 start with a triceps scare.
Two runs were enough
Corey Seager homered in the third; Nicky Lopez's sacrifice fly scored Ezequiel Duran in the eighth. ESPN had Texas 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Dallas Morning News and ESPN listed the Rangers at 63-65, tied for the third AL wild-card spot, with Washington at 61-68.
