Jacob deGrom tossed seven strong innings in his return to Citi Field and benefited from some early run support Friday night, when the visiting Texas Rangers beat the free-falling New York Mets 8-3 in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

The Rangers (78-70), who scored six runs with two outs in the first, have won five straight. Texas entered Friday two games behind the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the race for the American League West crown as well as the final wild card.

The Mets (76-72), who began Friday with a 1 1/2-game lead on the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants in the race for the last National League wild card spot, lost their seventh straight. It's the third seven-game skid since June 13, a stretch in which New York has gone 31-48.

deGrom (12-7) allo

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