ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings, Evan Carter hit an inside-the-park home run while Corey Seager went deep and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Thursday night in the rubber match of their three-game series.
It was the 62nd career 10-strikeout game for deGrom (2-0), who has a 2.13 ERA in his six starts. The 37-year-old, two-time Cy Young Award winner threw 63 of 89 pitches for strikes, allowed five hits and exited after issuing his only walk.
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Texas Rangers' Corey Seager (5), Jake Burger, center rear, Joc Pederson (3) and Alejandro Osuna, right rear, celebrate Seager's three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart, right, and umpire Dan Merzel, left, look to the outfield as Texas Rangers' Evan Carter (32) and others celebrate Carter's inside the park home run in the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Peyton Gray, left, celebrates with catcher Danny Jansen, right, after the team's win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter rounds the bases on his way home after hitting a two-run inside the park home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Degrom throws to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Carter's two-run homer for the game's first runs came when he lined a 97.5 mph full-count fastball beyond the reach of right fielder Ryan O'Hearn in the third inning. The ball ricocheted hard off the bottom of the wall and Carter rounded the bases for his first career inside-the-parker, and third homer this season.
That came two pitches after home plate umpire Dan Merzel signaled ball four, but that was overturned on a ABS challenge by the catcher Joey Bart and kept Carter at the plate instead of a walk.
Seager made it 6-0 in the fourth with his three-run homer, his sixth of the year being a 382-drive pulled into the right-field stands off Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler (1-2).
Chandler allowed six runs and seven hits while striking out four and walking three.
Oneil Cruz hit his eighth homer for Pittsburgh, a two-out solo shot in the fifth.
Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin played his last game as a teenager, going 0 for 4 the night before his 20th birthday. He was the last batter of the game, striking out against Peyton Gray, a 30-year-old right-hander making his big-league debut with a 1-2-3 inning.
Gray was called up earlier Thursday after eight years going through the minor leagues, independent ball and four winters outside the United States.
Pittsburgh goes to Milwaukee on Friday night for the first of 10 consecutive games against NL Central foes. The Rangers stay home to open a three-game series against the Athletics.
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Texas Rangers' Corey Seager (5), Jake Burger, center rear, Joc Pederson (3) and Alejandro Osuna, right rear, celebrate Seager's three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart, right, and umpire Dan Merzel, left, look to the outfield as Texas Rangers' Evan Carter (32) and others celebrate Carter's inside the park home run in the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Peyton Gray, left, celebrates with catcher Danny Jansen, right, after the team's win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter rounds the bases on his way home after hitting a two-run inside the park home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Degrom throws to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Peyton Gray had visualized the moment so many times that he didn't feel nervous when finally making his big league debut — at age 30 after eight years through the minor leagues, independent ball and four winters outside the United States
Gray worked a perfect inning in his debut for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, getting a groundout on his first pitch in the majors and ending the 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates with a strikeout of Konnor Griffin, the highly touted shortstop playing the day before his 20th birthday.
“That makes me feel pretty old,” Grey said with a smile. “Getting my first career strikeout on him is pretty cool.”
The Rangers promoted Gray from Triple-A Round Rock earlier Thursday when placing left-handed reliever Robert Garcia on the 15-day injured list because of left shoulder inflammation after he hadn't pitched in a week. Gray was the fourth reliever they used after two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom recorded his 62nd career 10-strikeout game, getting those in 5 2/3 innings.
“It was awesome, and I was getting chills,” Rangers manager Skip Shumaker said. “The journey that he had to get to this spot, you could probably write a book about it.”
Gray found out about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, after Round Rock was rained out for the second day in a row in Sugar Land, Texas, that he was going to join the Rangers. He then called his parents in Columbus, Indiana, and they made the more than 900-mile drive to be at their son's big-league debut.
Each time the phone rang in the Rangers bullpen Thursday night, Gray got antsy thinking it could be his moment.
“When it was finally my turn, it was awesome. I wasn’t nervous I was more excited, prepared,” said Gray, who was asked later why he didn't feel nervous. “I think I visualized this moment so many times throughout my life. ... I feel like I’ve been a big leaguer already. I just haven’t been able to be on this stage yet.”
After needing only one pitch to get his first out, Gray got a flyout before facing Griffin, the teenager who two weeks ago agreed to nine-year, $140 million contract with the Pirates. The swing-and-miss for strike three was on an 83.4 mph changeup that catcher Danny Jansen blocked and then threw to first base to end the game.
“This game is amazing. I love this game so much because of stories like that,” Schumaker said. “You’re seeing a kid that just came out of high school not too long ago, and then another guy that has spent (time) trying to get his moment. ... For him to get a strikeout against a future All-Star over there. That’s what the beautiful part of this game is, you don’t see that in every sport. That just doesn’t happen. So yeah, pretty cool moment.”
After being in the Rangers’ minor league system last season, Gray impressed them in spring training this year as a non-roster invite. He had 2.53 ERA in nine appearances with 18 strikeouts and one walk over 10 2/3 innings.
The pitcher who will turn 31 on June 2 began this season at Triple-A Round Rock, where he threw 12 2/3 scoreless innings over seven games, going 1-0 with two saves, 15 strikeouts and two walks.
“Being the 30-year-old non-roster invite that doesn’t have any big league time, I don’t think they expected me to put up as many zeroes and throw as many strikes as I did,” Gray said in the Rangers clubhouse before his MLB debut. ”So I think I surprised them. I might have surprised myself a little bit too.”
After pitching at Florida Gulf Coast University, Gray’s professional debut was a short season with the Colorado Rockies’ affiliate in the Northwest League in 2018, and he stayed in their organization in 2019.
He spent 2021 in the Kansas City Royals’ organization, that between three different seasons for the Milwaukee Milkmen in the independent American Association. He pitched in the Dominican last winter, after the previous three winters in the Mexican Pacific League.
“That’s awesome. 30 years old, that it’s a long time and been through a lot,” deGrom said of Gray. “So for him to get up here and get to the major leagues is just a testament to how hard he has worked throughout the minor leagues and stuff. So very happy for him.”
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Texas Rangers relief pitcher Peyton Gray throws his first pitch in his major league debut to Pittsburgh Pirates' Nick Gonzales in the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Peyton Gray, left, celebrates with catcher Danny Jansen, right, after the team's win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Peyton Gray throws to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers pitcher Robert Garcia throws to an Athletics batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 16, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
