Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom notches 11 strikeouts in 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles

Texas Rangers fans found out on Wednesday why the Texas Rangers gave Jacob deGrom the biggest contract for a pitcher in franchise history.

He baffled batters in his second career start for the Rangers, striking out 11 batters in the Rangers’ 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Field.

DeGrom allowed two walks, two hits and two runs (one earned) while notching 11 strikeouts in six innings of work in his first victory as a member of the Texas Rangers.

“He [Jacob deGrom] was great, wasn’t he? It’s good to get him a win,” said Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, “good command, great stuff, just a great effort by him.”

DeGrom, who signed a five-year $185 million contract with the Rangers in the offseason, didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning when the Orioles scored their only two runs of the game off a single and an error.

“They did work him pretty hard that fifth inning, but he bounced back had a good sixth [inning],” said Bochy.

Despite his stellar strikeout total, deGrom said he could’ve pitched better.

“I’m pretty hard on myself when it comes to that. The fifth inning there, you know there’s room for improvement, I have to throw the ball better out of the stretch,” said deGrom, “definitely room for improvement but pleased with how I threw the ball.”

Despite that blemish, deGrom befuddled the Orioles for most of his start with a fastball that hit as high as 99 mph and an especially effective slider thrown consistently in the low 90s.

“Early in the game noticed that it [slider] was really good and was throwing it to both sides mixing it up,” said deGrom.

The second outing was quite different than his first. He allowed five runs on six hits in 3.2 innings in the Rangers’ season-opening win against Philadelphia.

Rangers bullpen excellence

The Rangers’ bullpen continued their torrid start to the season and extended their consecutive scoreless inning steak to 21.1 in the victory.

The bullpen has been one of the strongest parts of the Rangers through the first six games of the season.

“We have a good bullpen, good arms down there,” said Bochy, “They’re doing such a great job I have confidence in all of them.”

José Leclerc came in to save the game in the ninth inning and had a 1-2-3 inning to secure his first save.

Garcia and Jung continue their hot hitting

Adolis Garcia and Josh Jung have been two of the Rangers’ hottest hitters to start the season and both players showed up in key moments for the Rangers.

Garcia went first hitting a one-run double with two outs to score the first run of the game. Garcia went two of four with an RBI and two runs. Garcia is hitting .348with one home run and five RBIs to start the season.

Jung followed Garcia’s first-inning double with a single of his own and hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth to finish up a superb home stand. Jung went three of four with three RBIs and one run. on the season Jung is slashing .318 with two home runs and four RBIs.

“I think we expect that, he [Josh Jung] works so hard on both ends of the ball. I’m fortunate enough to watch him work every day so I’m not surprised by what he’s doing,” second baseman Marcus Semien said.

The Rangers are off tomorrow before beginning their first road trip of the season on Friday against the Chicago Cubs at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field (Apple TV).