deGrom, Rangers experience death by solo cuts in Lone Star Series
This browser does not support the video element.
HOUSTON -- They always say solo homers won’t kill you. But four of them? That’ll certainly do the job.
Rangers ace Jacob deGrom allowed solo homers to Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Christian Walker and Zach Cole in Texas’ 4-1 loss to the Astros on Saturday night.
“We haven't scored too many runs this series so far,” said manager Skip Schumaker. “Solo home runs shouldn't beat us, and they beat us two nights in a row.”
All five hits deGrom allowed -- including the four homers -- came on four-seam fastballs in the middle or top of the zone. deGrom had only allowed three homers on the four-seamer entering the game, though he has struggled with the pitch’s location at various times throughout the season.
“That's frustrating,” deGrom said. “I was fighting myself to throw the ball where I wanted to, and wasn't able to make an in-game adjustment. I think the only plus side of tonight was I was able to go six innings. I was trying to try to make the adjustment, but it just was not great tonight. It wasn't good.”
This browser does not support the video element.
deGrom was palpably frustrated all game, and for good reason.
He has only allowed as many as four home runs in a single game once in his career: July 7, 2017, against the Cardinals. Those homers came from Randal Grichuk, Paul DeJong, Dexter Fowler and Jedd Gyorko. The Mets eventually won that game, 6-5.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” deGrom said. “I did not do a good job of putting us in a good position to win a game. That one's on me.”
His manager didn’t fully agree.
“I actually thought he pitched pretty good,” Schumaker said. “I didn't think he had a great feel for the slider, quite honestly. He gave up the solo home runs, but I think the line probably looked worse than I thought he pitched. I know he's not going to be happy with it. We lost the game, I get it, but I thought he actually pitched OK. The pitches that they hit were up, and they capitalized on it.”
This browser does not support the video element.
deGrom can shoulder the blame all his wants -- and he’s done it before -- but the Rangers had more than enough opportunities to do the same as the Mets did all nearly nine years ago and rally back to a victory. Texas collected six hits, eight walks and a hit-by-pitch. But the Rangers only scored one run, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding 13 runners. Stop reading now if you’ve heard that one already this season.
Eight of the Rangers’ nine hitters got on base at least once. But none could capitalize.
“It's tough to get upset about the guys and their approach, because up and down the lineup, they took really good at bats,” Schumaker began. “It's just [not happening] with runners in scoring position. We want traffic. We will break through at some point. I would take this day with all the traffic over being no-hit through 7 1/3. But it's still a loss, and that's what matters the most.”