ARLINGTON, Texas — Behind a vintage outing from Jacob deGrom and a burst of timely power, the Texas Rangers secured a 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night at Globe Life Field, clinching their first series win in over two weeks.
Texas took control early and never looked back, winning the rubber matchup of the three-game set and improving to 2-1 on their current homestand.
deGrom (2-0) delivered his sharpest performance of the young season, striking out 10 over 5.2 innings while allowing just one earned run. The right-hander recorded at least one strikeout in every inning he pitched, showcasing the swing-and-miss arsenal that has defined his career. His 10 strikeouts marked the most by a Rangers pitcher this season and his highest total since May of last year.
The only blemish came on a solo home run by Oneil Cruz in the fifth inning. Otherwise, deGrom was in full command, lowering his ERA to 2.13.
Offensively, the Rangers broke through in the third inning thanks to a rare spark from Evan Carter. The young outfielder electrified the home crowd with a two-run inside-the-park home run — the first of his career and the first by a Ranger at Globe Life Field since 2024.
An inning later, Corey Seager delivered the knockout punch. The shortstop launched a three-run homer to cap a four-run fourth inning, extending Texas’ lead to 6-0. The blast was Seager’s team-leading sixth home run of the season and accounted for his 16th RBI.
The Rangers bullpen handled the rest with authority. Relievers combined for 3.1 scoreless innings, preserving the lead and continuing a strong trend for Texas’ relief corps, which has consistently shut down opponents in extended outings this season.
One bright spot for Pittsburgh came from Cruz, whose towering fifth-inning homer accounted for the club’s only run. The Pirates, however, struggled to generate consistent offense, striking out 13 times on the night.
Texas now moves to 2-1 on its nine-game homestand, which continues this weekend with a three-game series against Oakland before a high-profile matchup with the Yankees early next week.
For the Rangers, Thursday night offered a glimpse of what the club can be when its ace is dominant and its lineup delivers timely power — a combination that could signal momentum building in Arlington.
