Texas Rangers Fall to Padres in Final Jacob deGrom Spring Start

Jacob deGrom pitched nearly four scoreless innings, but things got out of hand for the Texas Rangers after the Opening Day starter left the game.

The Texas Rangers lost to the San Diego Padres on Saturday in Jacob deGrom's last start of the spring. Here’s a breakdown of the game.

San Diego 5, Rangers 3

Records: San Diego (14-14), Rangers (12-15-2).

Winning pitcher: Nick Martinez (2-1, SDP)

Losing pitcher: Taylor Hearn (0-1, TEX)

Save: Moises Logo (1, SDP)

Rangers at the plate: Ezequiel Duran continued his hot streak to end spring training with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. It was his third home run of the spring and his third in the past three games.

Bubba Thompson added a run in the third as his ground ball scored Adolis García to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

The Rangers added a run in the seventh on Brad Miller’s solo home run, his third of the spring.

Rangers on the mound: deGrom started the game and worked nearly four innings, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out six. He threw 54 pitches. He seems on course to throw about 75 pitches  in his Opening Day start Thursday in Arlington.

In the fourth, he left a mess for reliever Taylor Hearn to clean up. Hearn made it a bit worse by hitting a batter and loading the bases, but he forced an inning-ending groundout.

In the fifth, Hearn and Zack Littell oversaw a five-run disaster. Hearn didn’t record an out but gave up two hits and a walk, along with three runs. Littell inherited two baserunners and got two outs, but gave up two hits, two runs and a walk. John King came in and put out the fire. He pitched two outs in the sixth and gave the ball to Marc Church, who struck out two in 1 1/3 innings. Jacob Barnes pitched a scoreless eighth and Ian Kennedy threw a scoreless ninth.

On Monday: After a day off to travel back to Arlington, the Rangers will play the first of two exhibition games against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field. First pitch Monday is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Jose Altuve Injury Potentially Helps Texas Rangers Playoff Chances
2. MLB Plan for Television Texas Rangers
3. Why did Bochy Tab deGrom for Opening Day?
4. Texas Rangers Terminating TV Rights if Bally Sports Goes Bankrupt
5. Rangers Believe They're as Good as Astros, Dodgers
6. Rangers Rotation Set Behind Jacob deGrom
7. Rangers Must Lock Up Two Big Stars Before Season
8. Latest Rangers Roster Projection
9. Rangers Make Decision on Left Fielder
10. Nadel Steps Away from Rangers Broadcasts to Begin Season

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