DeGrom Conquers Cardinals

Jacob deGrom struck out eight across five shutout innings as the Rangers held off the Cardinals 2-1 in Monday's series opener at Busch Stadium

Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

June 2, 2026

Rangers 2, Cardinals 1

The St. Louis Cardinals fell 2-1 to the Texas Rangers Monday night at Busch Stadium in the opener of a three-game series. Jacob deGrom was dominant, striking out eight across five shutout innings to earn the win. Michael McGreevy delivered a quality start for the Cardinals but allowed two runs — one each in the fourth and fifth innings — that proved to be the difference. Masyn Winn provided the Cardinals’ only offense with a solo home run in the sixth. Jacob Latz closed it out for the save.

DeGrom Shuts Down the Cardinals

DeGrom was in command from the first pitch. The Rangers starter held the Cardinals to four hits across five innings on 91 pitches, striking out eight and walking one. Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, Nolan Gorman, and JJ Wetherholt all finished hitless against him. The Cardinals had no consistent answer for deGrom all evening, and by the time he exited after five innings, the damage was already done.

After deGrom’s exit following the fifth, Peyton Gray, Tyler Alexander, Jakob Junis, and Latz combined for four innings. Gray allowed Winn’s home run in the sixth, but Alexander, Junis, and Latz were spotless the rest of the way, combining for five strikeouts and zero hits across three innings to preserve the victory.

Rangers Strike in the Fourth and Fifth

McGreevy kept the Cardinals in the game through three scoreless innings before the Rangers broke through in the fourth. Joc Pederson drove in the first run with an RBI single to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ezequiel Duran doubled home a run to push the advantage to two. Those were the only runs McGreevy allowed across six innings, finishing with five hits, two earned runs, one strikeout, and two walks on 87 pitches.

Winn Provides a Spark

The Cardinals’ only highlight came in the sixth inning when Winn crushed a solo home run off Gray to cut the deficit to one. It was a brief moment of life in an otherwise quiet night for the Cardinals offense. However, the Cardinals could not build on it, going hitless the rest of the way against Alexander, Junis, and Latz.

What Went Right for the Rangers

DeGrom’s Dominance

Eight strikeouts across five shutout innings was a vintage deGrom performance. He needed only 91 pitches and was never seriously threatened by the Cardinals lineup. His command was sharp throughout, and the Rangers made sure his effort was not wasted.

Duran Leads the Offense

Duran was the Rangers’ most productive hitter, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. His fifth-inning double proved to be the decisive blow of the game. Nicky Lopez added two hits as well, giving the Rangers consistent production at the top of the lineup.

What Went Right for the Cardinals

McGreevy Gives Quality Length

Six innings, two earned runs, five hits — McGreevy gave the Cardinals exactly the kind of start they needed. He worked efficiently on 87 pitches and kept the Cardinals in a position to win. Against a Rangers lineup that finished 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, McGreevy did enough to give his offense a chance.

Winn’s Home Run

Winn’s solo blast in the sixth was the one swing that gave the Cardinals life. Going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, Winn was the lone bright spot in an offense that managed only five hits on the night.

What Went Wrong for the Cardinals

Offense Struggled Against deGrom

Four of nine Cardinals starters finished hitless. The Cardinals went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and managed only five hits total. Against one of the best pitchers in baseball, the Cardinals had little margin for error — and they found none.

Runners Left Stranded

The Cardinals collected five hits but could not string anything together when it mattered. Going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in a one-run game is the difference between a loss and a victory. Opportunities came and went, and the Cardinals could not deliver the key hit they needed.

Quick Hits

The Cardinals fell to 30-27 with the loss
Duran finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI — the best individual offensive line of the game
Victor Scott II went 1-for-2 with a double off the bench for the Cardinals

Looking Ahead

Jacob deGrom (4-4, 3.86 ERA) earned the win for the Rangers as Michael McGreevy (3-5, 3.60 ERA) took the loss for the Cardinals. Jacob Latz earned the save.

The Cardinals and Rangers continue their three-game series Tuesday, June 2 at 6:45 pm Central at Busch Stadium. Dustin May (3-6, 4.57 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals against the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi (5-6, 3.93 ERA).

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