ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom reached another career milestone Thursday night, striking out 10 and surpassing 2,000 career strikeouts as the Texas Rangers defeated the Washington Nationals 2-0 to take the series.
DeGrom allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings, walking one and throwing 60 of 94 pitches for strikes. He struck out the first two batters he faced to reach 2,000, getting Abimelec Ortiz swinging through a 92.6 mph slider for the milestone.
He finished with 2,008 career strikeouts and became the 95th pitcher in major league history to reach 2,000, according to Elias. DeGrom also became the third pitcher in Rangers history to record his 2,000th strikeout while with Texas, joining Fergie Jenkins and Cole Hamels.
The 36-year-old right-hander gave up only a second-inning single to Brady House. Washington went hitless in its final 14 at-bats against deGrom, with seven strikeouts and one walk.
It was the third time in his career that deGrom has recorded at least six scoreless innings, one or fewer hits and 10 or more strikeouts. He has been particularly dominant against Washington, going 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA and 39 strikeouts against one walk over his last four starts against the Nationals dating to 2021.
Corey Seager supplied the Rangers’ first run with a solo homer to right-center in the third inning. It was his 13th homer of the season and third since Aug. 8.
Seager added a double in the fifth for his fourth consecutive multihit game. Since returning from the injured list July 31, he is batting .328 with three homers and six RBIs in 17 games.
Texas added an insurance run in the eighth when Nicky Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly.
Justin Foscue went 2-for-2, his first multihit game since July 9. He continued his strong production against left-handed pitching, raising his 2026 average against southpaws to .315 with a 1.003 OPS.
Jacob Latz closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth for his 25th save. Latz became the first left-handed pitcher in Rangers history to record 25 saves in a season, surpassing C.J. Wilson’s previous franchise mark of 24 set in 2008.
The Rangers also overcame an unusual offensive drought, going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Washington managed only one hit, its lowest total of the season, and was shut out for the second time in the series. The Nationals lost five of their last six games and seven of their last nine.
Andrew Alvarez absorbed the loss despite allowing only one run over five innings. Seager’s homer ended Alvarez’s 58 2/3-inning streak without allowing a home run.
Brady House had Washington’s only hit and reached base three times, adding two walks.
Texas improved to 63-65 and is tied with Minnesota for the final American League wild-card spot. The Rangers have won three of their last five games after dropping four straight.
The victory also gave Texas its 12th shutout of the season, tied with the Yankees for third-most in the American League. It was the Rangers’ second shutout of the series after a 5-0 victory Tuesday.
Texas now turns its attention to a three-game weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels to close the six-game homestand.
