ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom unexpectedly exited his start against the New York Yankees after giving up his first hit with two outs in the fourth inning Friday night.
DeGrom retired his first 10 batters and had a 5-0 lead when he walked Anthony Rizzo.
Ahead of Willie Calhoun 0-2 in the count with two outs, deGrom threw a 96.6 mph fastball that sailed outside for ball, and the pitcher reached for his left side. DeGrom followed with an 89.4 mph slider that was outside, and Calhoun lined an opposite-field single to left.
DeGrom appeared to limp slightly. Athletic trainer Jacob Newburn and pitching coach Mike Maddux went to the mound, and Maddux summoned Bruce Bochy and met with the manager in foul territory. Bochy then went to the mound and removed the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner in favor of Dane Dunning.
DeGrom signed a $185 million, five-year contract with the Rangers in December after his first nine seasons with the New York Mets. He was plagued by injuries in his past two seasons with the Mets, limited to 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts.
The Rangers were cautious with him in spring training after he reported tightness in his left side before the team’s first scheduled workout, but the right-hander was still their opening-day starter. He left his fourth start April 17 at Kansas City with a sore right wrist after throwing four hitless innings, but made his next scheduled start.