Arriving just when needed: a dominating performance from Jacob deGrom.

Arriving totally out of the blue: the Rangers beating up on left-handed pitching.

Yesterday, the Rangers, behind a a three-hit, six-inning shutout performance from Jacob deGrom, pounced on the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-0 romp. 

DeGrom had been shaky of late. He gave up six earned runs in a start against the Yankees. Two starts later, gave up four earned runs against Houston, and followed that up with another six earned runs against the lowly Angels. But he’s had back-to-back starts—against St Louis and now Cleveland—where he hasn’t given up any runs. But against the Guardians, he went six innings, struck out six, gave up three singles, and walked two. He was never really in trouble. He was the dominating deGrom that will eventually land him at Cooperstown.

This one came at the most opportune time. Because the Rangers were facing a lefty. There are not enough synonyms for inept to describe how the Rangers fare against southpaws. 

But for one day, that didn’t matter. And it didn’t matter that the Rangers were at home, where their offense has as much life as morgue. The Rangers collected 16 hits to go with their 10 runs, including four hard-to-come-by home runs.

The win puts the Rangers one game under .500 again. Maybe they are gathering the momentum to finally get over the hump. 

A 10-0 win is a great start. 

*****