Baseball (MLB, WBC, College, etc.)

Darvish just misses perfecto

HOUSTON, April 2 (13:05) Kyodo


The Texas Rangers' Yu Darvish came with one out of throwing a perfect game in his 2013 season debut on Tuesday in a 7-0 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The right-hander struck out a career-high 14 batters. After retiring the first 24 batters he faced, Darvish got three grounders to open the ninth. The first two were easily out, but the pitcher was unable to snare a smash up the middle that bounced into center field for the Astros' first hit.

"My cutter was good and when I got to full counts, I was able to get a good break on the slider," Darvish told NHK television after the game. "I barely threw my four-seamer since I my cutter was so sharp and I could use that instead."

Darvish left two fat pitches up in the zone, the first was driven to the warning track in left center in the fifth inning by cleanup hitter Chris Carter. The second cost him his perfect game in the ninth, when No. 9 hitter Marwin Gonzalez smashed a high,
first-pitch fastball into center.

"If you come that far, you want to be really strong," Darvish said. "I think that shows that as far as being a pitcher who is capable of throwing a perfect game, I am still lacking some things. It was a great memory though."

While his teammates threw gloves in the dugout in frustration, Darvish could only smile at the turn of fortune as manager Ron Washington came to take him out of the game. Lefty Michael Kirkman finished up to complete Darvish's first win of the season.

The Rangers broke up a scoreless duel between Darvish and Astros right-hander Luca Harrel (0-1) with a run in the third. Craig Gentry doubled with one out and scored on Lance Berkman's one-out, bases-loaded single.

Harrel allowed a run in six innings, but once he was gone, the Rangers scored twice in each of the remaining three frames.

"This was our first win and we put things together really well. Hopefully, the way we played today will lead to a lot of wins over the course of the season," Darvish said. "My teammates picked me up with some big runs and that made my job easier."


Overall, a good day for Japanese players. Hisashi Iwakuma gave up just 2 hits and 1 run in 6 innings as Seattle beat the A's 7-1 and Norichika went 2-for-4 although the Brewers lost to the Rox. Kuroda has his first start of the season tonight against the BoSox.

gaijinmark wrote: Kuroda has his first start of the season tonight against the BoSox.

And it didn't go very well:

NEW YORK, April 4 (16:16) Kyodo

New York Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda's season debut was a brief one on Wednesday, when he was struck on the pitching hand by a line drive in a 7-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Yankees Stadium.

Kuroda, who went 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA in 2012, his first season with the Yankees, was hit on the middle finger by a drive off the bat of Shane Victorino that landed in center field for a leadoff single. Kuroda remained on the mound to face four more hitters, but issued a walk and hit two batters, the second forcing in a run.

Tests after the game revealed that the damage was limited to a bruise.

"I'm glad there is no problem with the bone," the pitcher said. "In my mind, I had to stay on the mound (after that) and I felt I could keep going, but I've never lost control of a ball like that."

"It hurts to have to leave the game so early on account of something like this."

The 38-year-old took the loss, allowing two runs in 1-1/3 innings. He struck out one.

Dodgers lose to the Giants, 5-3.

Same old story for the Blue Crew: defensive errors, leaving men on base. :(

Dodgers shut out the Pirates, 3-0.

Kershaw pitched another gem, shutting out the Pirates, 1-0. :victory:

Dodgers sweep the Pirates with a 6-2 win. :victory:

Next up: The Padres in San Diego.

As usual, the Dodgers have trouble with the lowly Padres, losing 9-3. :shakehead:

Matt Kemp's shoulder still isn't right. His best days may already be behind him. :puppydog:

gaijinmark wrote:Matt Kemp's shoulder still isn't right. His best days may already be behind him. :puppydog:

Yikes. :sweat:

Dodgers lose to the D-backs, 3-0. :(

And Iwakuma outduels Darvish in Seattle:

SEATTLE, April 13 (17:17) Kyodo


Seattle Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma outdueled Texas' Yu Darvish in a 3-1 win over the Rangers on Friday night in Seattle.

Iwakuma (2-0) was dealing from the get-go and yielded just one run and three hits in 6-2/3 innings. His countryman, Darvish (2-1), allowed three runs and three hits in six innings of work and lost his first decision since Aug. 17, 2012.

"I wanted to end our (six-game) losing streak, and so I was glad I could pitch well tonight," said Iwakuma. "We were in a pitching duel, so I was amped and just didn't want to give up the opening run. My teammates scored three runs for me, making it easy for me to pitch."

All the damage against Darvish was done in the first inning: he plunked Jason Bay with one out, then gave up consecutive singles to Kendrys Morales and Raul Ibanez for the opening run. One out later, Kyle Seager hit a two-run double down the first bases line.

But Texas' ace, who was facing Iwakuma for the second time in the majors, recovered after that, taking command of his slider from the second inning to strike out seven with no hits allowed through the sixth.

Asked if he was focused on his match-up against Iwakuma, Darvish
said, " I pitch my own game. It's strange that I didn't give up any runs from the second through sixth since my form wasn't that good. I did the best job I could."

And the Angels are now 2-8, thought I'd never say this but we may be referring to Mike Scioscia as "former Angels manager" it things don't pick up.

Dodgers beat the D-backs, 7-5.

Dodgers lose a pitching duel to the D-backs in the bottom of the ninth, 1-0. :(

Kuroda pitches a complete game 5-hit shutout, :applaud:

Yankees beat the Orioles 3-0.

Dodgers lose to the lowly Padres, 6-3. :(

Dodgers lose again to the Padres, 9-2. :shakehead:

Dodgers get swept by the Orioles in a day-night doubleheader yesterday... That's six straight losses. :shakehead:

Dodgers beat the Mets, 7-2, but Kershaw struggles again and gets no decision. :(

Billingsley done for the year with Tommy John surgery, looks like the Dodger pitching staff will be "Kershaw and Ryu and hope the other team gets the flu."

Dodger bullpen fails in the 9th and 10th and they lose to the Mets, 7-3. :shakehead: