Watch: Jacob deGrom, Josh Jung Sharp in Texas Rangers Win Over Orioles
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers snapped their two-game losing streak and leave for their first road trip with a winning record as they defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Wednesday at Globe Life Field.
The Rangers (4-2) didn't pile on the runs like they did in their first two games of the season. But what mattered for Texas was the win.
The real Jacob deGrom showed up Wednesday and won his first game with the Rangers. After an inconsistent first outing, deGrom began the game with four scoreless innings and eight strikeouts. He eventually gave up two runs in the fifth, but only one was earned. For the day, he struck out 11 in a two-hitter over six innings.
Josh Jung handled the run production. The rookie went 2-for-4 and three RBI to lift his season average to .318. His two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth gave the Rangers the lead for good.
José Leclerc worked a scoreless ninth for his first save.
The Rangers begin their first road trip of the season on Friday when they face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field at 1:20 p.m. It's a short trip. The Rangers are back in Arlington on Monday to face the Kansas City Royals.
deGrom was sharp from the start. At one point, he struck out four Orioles in a row. In the fourth inning, he struck out the side. This is the deGrom the Rangers were hoping they were getting when they signed him to a five-year, $185 million deal in December.
In the top of the sixth, the Rangers got it done with a double play that featured deGrom striking out Anthony Santander and Rangers catcher Jonah Heim throwing out Adley Rutschman trying to steal second.
The Rangers managed nine hits, but maximized them for five runs. Against Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez — making his MLB debut — the Rangers had success early.
Adolis García doubled home Corey Seager and Jung singled García home in the bottom of the first to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
The Orioles tied it with a couple of runs in the top of the fifth, but the Rangers regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth after Jung's blast off O's reliever Austin Voth.
The Rangers tacked on a run in the seventh on Nathaniel Lowe's RBI double, which scored Ezequiel Duran.
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