Rangers’ Jacob deGrom surpasses 2,000 K’s and combines with 3 on 1-hitter in 2-0 win over Nationals

Arlington, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom achieved a milestone of 2,000 career strikeouts in the second-fewest games and innings in major league history while leading his team to a 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. DeGrom mastered the task with an impressive 10 strikeouts and just one hit and one walk in six innings. He became just the third player to reach the milestone in fewer than 1,700 innings, joining Randy Johnson and Chris Sale.

Corey Seager's third inning home run contributed to the Rangers' dominance as four Texas pitchers combined for a one-hitter. Ezequiel Duran added to the Rangers' offense with a triple in the eighth inning, eventually scoring on Nicky Lopez's sacrifice fly. Texas' bullpen, led by Jacob Latz's 12th save in 28 opportunities, sealed the shutout win.

DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, has accumulated 2,008 strikeouts in 1,666 1/3 innings across 272 starts since his debut in 2014. The Rangers, tied for the final AL wild card, struggled in the game, failing to record a hit with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base. Washington, the highest-scoring team in the majors, went 0 for 10 with runners on base and was shut out for the fifth time this season.