Darvish returns with 9 Ks, lasts just 4 1/3 innings vs. Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) - Yu Darvish was pleased with his first start since June 8 after recovering from shoulder discomfort, even though his pitch count quickly rose and he fell short of pitching five innings.
Darvish returned from the disabled list to strike out nine but was inefficient and wild at times, and Anthony Rizzo's two-run double helped lead the Chicago Cubs past the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Saturday.
Darvish (2-1) reached 98 mph and allowed only two runs and two hits, but the Japanese right-hander lasted just 4 1/3 innings thanks to four walks and shoddy defense.
"My shoulder felt fine," Darvish said through an interpreter.
Jason Hammel (8-5) struck out seven in six innings for the Cubs, who won their second straight in the interleague matchup of division leaders.
Hector Rondon pitched a perfect ninth to complete the three-hitter for his 15th save.
Darvish, a three-time All-Star, was making his fourth start since missing all of 2015 following Tommy John surgery. A dominant slider dipping out of the strike zone accounted for seven of his strikeouts.
"I was throwing the ball well," Darvish said. "It was a little different feeling from the last rehab outing in a good way."
But he was lifted after 90 pitches when second baseman Rougned Odor dropped what could have been an inning-ending double play.
"We would have liked to got him the complete five," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "I felt like he pitched well enough to handle that. We saw what we needed to see from him. The secondary stuff was exceptional, the fastball control, command, felt like (that) was there."
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he wanted his players to be patient at the plate, knowing Darvish faced a pitch count. Darvish got Kris Bryant looking on a 98 mph fastball in the first, but his velocity dipped as the game wore on.
"A guy like that, if you just let him have his way, he'll be sitting on 70 (pitches) in the sixth inning, he's going to beat you up," Maddon said. "His stuff is that good. KB has really not been in chase mode, and when he's chasing the slider you know how good it actually is."
Darvish walked Miguel Montero, who entered hitting .201, to lead off the third. Then Rizzo's two-out double to right extended his hitting streak to 11 games and put the Cubs ahead to stay.
"I threw that slider where I wanted it to be, and I struck him out on the previous at-bat," Darvish said. "I threw it where I wanted. Got to tip my hat to him."
Hammel allowed three hits in his first victory since June 4. Matt Szczur pinch-hit for the right-hander in the sixth and hit a two-run single off Shawn Tolleson. It was Szczur's 10th pinch hit and second for an RBI in as many days.
Texas' lone run in the game - and the series - came in odd fashion in the second.
Ryan Rua singled and scored from second on Elvis Andrus' infield single after the first baseman Rizzo threw wildly to the plate.
Texas has dropped a season high-tying four straight and nine of 11.
"We've got to find a way of putting a good combination of a solid start and some solid offense on the board and play good defense," Banister said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: RF Shin-Soo Choo (back) was out of the lineup for a second straight day, but an MRI showed no major issues. . RHP Kyle Lohse (oblique) threw a bullpen session before the game. He's scheduled to start Tuesday against the Angels. . RHP Jose Leclerc was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for Darvish.
DARVISH AT THE DISH
Darvish batted for the first time since 2014 and went up left-handed. He didn't swing while striking out on three pitches in the third. Darvish batted right-handed in the past. Banister said Darvish has been hitting left-handed during batting practice.
"I thought it was easier hitting left-handed, and hitting right-handed put more stress on my right shoulder, right elbow, and I kind of didn't want to do it," Darvish said.
KELA RETURNS
Rangers RHP Keone Kela struck out the side and walked one in a hitless seventh in his first appearance since April following elbow surgery.
UP NEXT
Texas LHP Cole Hamels (9-2, 3.21 ERA) on Sunday makes his first start at Wrigley Field since throwing a no-hitter against the Cubs last July. It came in his final start for Philadelphia. Cubs RHP John Lackey (7-5, 3.70) is winless in his last four starts.