Jacob deGrom Reminded Everyone How Special He Is In Thursday Gem

The Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 1-0 on Thursday night in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel at Globe Life Field. The win moves Texas into second place in the American League West while the loss drops Houston to third.

The Rangers are 24-21 while the Astros are 22-21.

Texas ace Jacob deGrom earned the win on the mound, going eight shutout innings. He allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out seven. He's now 4-1 and he lowered his ERA to 2.29.

Hunter Brown was the tough-luck loser for Houston despite giving up just one run over eight innings. He walked none and struck out nine. He's now 6-2 with a 1.43 ERA.

According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, the game was a statistical oddity:

What a pitcher’s duel!!!

Jacob deGrom 8 shutout IP
Hunter Brown 8 IP, 1 run

First game where both SP went 8+ IP allowing 1 or 0 runs since 5/14/24 — Reese Olson and Ryan Weathers

What a pitcher’s duel!!!

Jacob deGrom 8 shutout IP
Hunter Brown 8 IP, 1 run

First game where both SP went 8+ IP allowing 1 or 0 runs since 5/14/24 — Reese Olson and Ryan Weathers https://t.co/jWoyZ2slMM
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 16, 2025

These are the kinds of performances that the Rangers - and fans at large - were hoping to see when deGrom signed with Texas before the 2023 season. One of the most accomplished pitchers of the last decade, deGrom just hasn't been able to stay healthy for the last several years.

He's made only 17 starts for the Rangers since signing with them, and he's only made 43 starts since the 2021 season.

The 36-year-old is a four-time All-Star and a two-time Cy Young winner. He led the National League in strikeouts (2019, 2020) twice with the New York Mets and won the ERA title in 2018.

The two teams will play again on Friday night at 8:05 p.m. ET.

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