Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish squared off against Justin Verlander in one of the most highly anticipated pitching matchups of the season Thursday, but neither pitcher brought his best stuff. Darvish, however, picked up the win to move to 7-1 by allowing four earned runs in eight innings, striking out six batters and walking one.
Despite having the game in hand late, the Rangers allowed Darvish to throw 130 pitches, the second highest pitch count of any AL pitcher this season and the second time in three starts Darvish has thrown at least 127 pitches. He'll take a 2.97 ERA into a start at home against the A's Tuesday.