Jake Burger’s sixth-inning solo home run was the difference in a dynamite pitchers’ duel as the Texas Rangers defeated the Houston Astros 1-0 on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series between the Lone Star State rivals in Arlington, Texas.
Starters Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Hunter Brown for Houston were both on top of their games, with one pitch from Brown that Burger turned into a home run proving to be the difference.
deGrom (4-1) went eight innings, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out seven in a 96-pitch outing. It was the first time since April 23, 2021, that deGrom pitched at least eight full innings. In that game as a member of the Mets, he hurled a 15-strikeout complete game in a 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals.
The Rangers’ defense helped him on Thursday, with Evan Carter making a superb catch in center field and Adolis Garcia adding two terrific plays in right.
Shawn Armstrong pitched the ninth for the Rangers, allowing a two-out walk before earning his second save of the season.
Texas has won a season-best six consecutive games while the Astros had a two-game winning streak snapped.
Brown (6-2) was nearly as good as deGrom, giving up only three hits and not walking a batter while tossing an eight-inning complete game. He struck out nine (one off his career high) and extended his streak of nine-strikeout games to five.
The Astros threatened with two-out rallies in the second, fourth and fifth, but deGrom squashed all three threats with strikeouts of Jake Myers, Zach Dezenzo and Jose Altuve, respectively, to end the innings.
Brown did not allow a baserunner until Garcia’s leadoff double in the fifth. He responded by striking out Marcus Semien and Josh Jung and then coaxing a popout from Carter.
Burger opened the sixth with his blast over the right center field fence. The homer ended Brown’s streak of 15 2/3 scoreless innings and was just the second home run allowed by the right-hander this season.
Houston outhit the Rangers 5-3, with Victor Caratini collecting two hits to lead the Astros.
–Field Level Media
