Yu Darvish dominates, Texas Rangers pound Angels again, 8-3
ANAHEIM, California (AP) — The Texas Rangers knew it wouldn't be long before their Japanese ace Yu Darvish had a dominant start and got rewarded for it.
Darvish pitched seven scoreless innings and Carlos Gomez hit a leadoff homer in the Rangers' comprehensive 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Thursday.
Darvish (1-1) struck out 10 and limited the Halos to five singles and two walks, improving to 8-2 in his career against the Angels. With his breaking pitches dipping precipitously, the Los Angeles lineup couldn't do much against him.
"I had a sharp, good slider," Darvish said through a translator. "It's got a big break on it."
Darvish went winless in his first two starts of the season, thanks to a blown save and meager run support, but he got plenty of backing at the Big A. Nomar Mazara also homered and Robinson Chirinos drove in three runs for the Rangers, who took two of three from their AL West rivals.
"That's exactly what Yu needs to do when he goes out, and that's to pound the strike zone," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "He's got swing-and-miss stuff."
