Pirates Fall to Rangers 6-1 as deGrom Dominates, Seager and Carter Power Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jacob deGrom struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings, Evan Carter hit an inside-the-park home run and Corey Seager belted a three-run homer as the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Thursday night at Globe Life Park.

The victory gave Texas a split of the three-game series, which the Rangers won 2-1 after dropping the opener 8-4 on Wednesday. The Pirates fell to 14-11, while Texas improved to 13-12.

DeGrom (2-0) allowed five hits and one earned run, walking one batter and throwing 63 of 89 pitches for strikes. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, now 37, lowered his ERA to 2.13. He exited after issuing his only walk in the sixth inning, having struck out 10 for the 62nd time in his career.

The Pirates managed only five hits and struck out 13 times as a team. The Rangers’ pitching staff combined for 14 strikeouts while issuing nine walks but holding Pittsburgh to one run (Interstat) — a solo home run by Oneil Cruz in the fifth inning.

Texas broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning, turning a 2-0 lead into a 6-0 advantage. The rally began with walks to Josh Smith and Alejandro Osuna. After Brandon Nimmo struck out, Joc Pederson singled to right field to score Smith. Corey Seager followed with a three-run homer to right, his sixth of the season, scoring Osuna and Pederson.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the third when Evan Carter hit an inside-the-park home run to put Texas ahead 2-0. With one out, Josh Jung singled, and Carter drove a 97.5 mph full-count fastball off the base of the right-center field wall. The ball ricocheted hard past right fielder Ryan O’Hearn, allowing Carter to round the bases for his first career inside-the-park homer and his third home run of the season.

Pittsburgh’s lone run came in the top of the fifth when Oneil Cruz led off with a home run to center, his eighth of the season. But the Pirates could not sustain any additional rallies.

The Pirates’ best scoring opportunity came in the sixth inning. After deGrom struck out Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O’Hearn walked, Nick Gonzales was hit by a pitch and Spencer Horwitz walked to load the bases. But Konnor Griffin grounded out to third base to end the inning.

Texas starter Jacob deGrom had dominated the Pirates for most of his outing. He struck out the side in the first inning, allowed only two hits through three innings and did not permit a runner past second base until the fifth. DeGrom also struck out Cruz twice and fanned Ozuna twice.

Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (1-2) took the loss after allowing six runs (Interstat) — five earned (Interstat) — on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.

The Texas bullpen held the Pirates scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings. Jalen Beeks struck out two in a perfect eighth, and Peyton Gray struck out one in a scoreless ninth. Evan Sisk of Pittsburgh pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits with two strikeouts.

The game drew 24,430 fans and lasted 2 hours, 33 minutes.

Texas took an early lead in the first when Brandon Nimmo singled but could not score. After a hit batsman and a walk, Evan Carter struck out to end the threat. The Rangers stranded two runners in the second as well, as Alejandro Osuna singled and Nimmo walked but Joc Pederson flied out.

The decisive inning came in the fourth. After Smith and Osuna walked, Nimmo struck out. Pederson then lined a single to right to score Smith. Seager followed with his three-run homer, crushing a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall. The blow effectively ended the competitive phase of the game.

Pittsburgh’s offense struggled to generate consistent contact. The Pirates struck out 13 times, including three by Ozuna and two each by Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Konnor Griffin. Reynolds, who entered the game hitting .302, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Nick Gonzales had two hits for Pittsburgh, both singles, and Ryan O’Hearn added a single and a walk. But the Pirates went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

Texas collected nine hits, led by Seager’s two hits and three RBIs. Evan Carter also had two hits, including the inside-the-park homer. Josh Jung, Alejandro Osuna, Joc Pederson and Brandon Nimmo each had one hit.

The Rangers’ defense also made key plays. In the second inning, center fielder Evan Carter made a running catch on a deep fly ball by Spencer Horwitz to end the inning. In the sixth, third baseman Josh Jung fielded a ground ball and threw to first to end the bases-loaded threat.

The game was the final contest of a three-game series that saw the Pirates win the opener 8-4 before Texas answered with a 5-1 victory Tuesday. The Pirates’ next game is Friday at Milwaukee against the Brewers. Texas opens a three-game home series Friday against the Athletics.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pirates 5, Rangers 4, but the Rangers outperformed the projection. Texas entered as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5 and a 56.3 percent win probability according to ELO ratings. The total score of 7 went over the over/under line of 7.5.

The losing pitcher, Bubba Chandler, has a 1-2 record this season. The winning pitcher, Jacob deGrom, improved to 2-0. DeGrom’s previous two starts included a win at Seattle on April 17 (4 innings, 4 hits, 0 earned runs, 3 strikeouts) and a win at Los Angeles on April 12 (6 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 9 strikeouts). He has now struck out 10 or more batters in a game 62 times in his career.

The Pirates dropped to 14-11, while the Rangers improved to 13-12. The two teams will not meet again this regular season.