Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Texas…
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Texas Rangers with teammate Daulton Varsho during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Frank Gunn / AP
TORONTO — Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom sought blame for his team’s loss when he last started vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. He was uncharacteristically erratic and home-run prone in his two starts before that against the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners.
There was no need for apologies or explanations this time out.
From him, at least.
DeGrom pitched five scoreless innings and was left in line for a win before the Texas bullpen imploded in a 6-5 series-opening loss vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre Friday night. The trio of left-hander Robert Garcia, left-hander Danny Coulombe and right-hander Phil Maton combined to allow six runs in the seventh and eighth to clinch a seventh loss in an eight-game span.
“My stuff felt good,” deGrom said. “They kind of got my pitch count up there a little bit. We made the decision to come out in the fifth. Looking back, I probably wish I would’ve gone out there and given the bullpen a little more.”
OK, so, he wasn’t entirely regret free. But, as has been the case much of this season, the starter was not the issue. He allowed two hits — an Addison Barger single in the second inning plus a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. double in the fourth — and struck out five batters.
The first-place Blue Jays have struck out less than any club in baseball (821 strikeouts) and are the only team in deGrom’s legendary career to survive a start against him without one. He pitched 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball against them on May 26, but for the first time in what had then been 229 career starts, he did not record a strikeout.
He did Friday.
Especially when he needed to.
Guerrero led the fourth inning off with a 105.6-mph double that speedy left fielder Wyatt Langford couldn’t quite reach. DeGrom proceeded to strike out Barger on six pitches and Daulton Varsho on four pitches for the inning’s first two outs. Alejandro Kirk chased deGrom’s slider to ground out and strand Guerrero at second base.
Advertisement
He struck out two more batters in the fifth inning before the Rangers lifted him at 84 pitches. The 37-year-old, whose 2.76 ERA is the fifth-best in the American League, has now logged 140 1/3 innings this season. That’s more than his three previous seasons combined (105 1/3) and the most he’s thrown in a single season since 2019 in his first full campaign back from elbow surgery.
“He was good, he was real good,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We got him right where we wanted him. It was far enough. [Right-hander Cole] Winn came in [in the sixth] and did a nice job. Just couldn’t hold them after that.”
News
Jennifer Love Hewitt shocked fans when she stepped out in public with husband Brian Hallisay — their first rare outing in years. After 12 years of marriage spent mostly away from the spotlight, the couple’s appearance instantly lit up headlines, leaving fans buzzing about Hollywood’s most private love story.
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Brian Hallisay: A Decade of Love Behind the Scenes In an industry where celebrity relationships often…
“I don’t care what you think of me.” With eight ice-cold words, Robert De Niro froze Karoline Leavitt mid-insult, silencing a live studio braced for fireworks. No shouting, no theatrics—just a devastating line that flipped the balance of power and left fans buzzing long after the cameras cut.
In a moment that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most striking live TV moments in recent history,…
Marjorie Taylor Greene, never far from controversy, has set off another firestorm with a jaw-dropping twist in the “Phillies Karen” saga. While demanding deportation for the woman at the center of the scandal, Greene was spotted buying VIP Marlins tickets for the boy in a wheelchair who broke down in tears. Admirers are calling it compassion in action, critics slam it as shameless political theater. Is Greene rewriting her image—or exploiting a tragedy for headlines? The truth behind her double-edged move is shaking the nation.
The image of a young boy in a wheelchair, crying as a grown woman snatched away his joy, has become…
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often praised as a defender of the underdog, has stunned the nation by stepping in to defend the notorious “Phillies Karen.” Across the aisle, Marjorie Taylor Greene erupted with fury, demanding deportation and igniting a storm that ripped across social media. Supporters see principled courage, critics call it reckless pandering. Is this the fight for fairness—or political theater at its ugliest? The full breakdown of America’s latest firestorm is setting the internet ablaze.
The story of Phillies Karen was already one of the most polarizing scandals of the year. From the infamous moment when she…
Jasmine Crockett, known for her sharp tongue and fearless presence, has ignited a firestorm with just four words about the infamous “Phillies Karen” saga. “Enough is enough,” she declared—words so cutting they left the woman at the center of the scandal stunned into silence. Within hours, her employer confirmed her dismissal. Some hail Crockett’s stance as justice long overdue, while others call it ruthless. Was this accountability in action—or a takedown taken too far? The full statement that sparked the nation’s debate is now making waves everywhere.
The drama surrounding the viral “Phillies Karen” saga has reached a boiling point, and now a powerful voice has entered…
Jeffrey Lurie, long respected as the steady hand behind the Philadelphia Eagles, has sent shockwaves through the sports world with a stunning announcement. “Hostile, reckless, or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated,” he declared, before revealing that the infamous “Phillies Karen” is now permanently banned from Lincoln Financial Field. Fans are split—some praising his bold stand for respect, others slamming it as an overreach. Is this a defining moment of leadership, or a dangerous precedent? The full story behind Lurie’s bombshell is rocking stadiums everywhere.
A Stunning Announcement from the Eagles’ Front Office In a move that stunned both fans and analysts, Philadelphia Eagles CEO Jeffrey…
End of content
No more pages to load
