Darvish roughed up, but wins MLB debut
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prized Japanese pitching prospect Yu Darvish did not set the world on fire in his Major League Baseball debut but shrugged off a rough start to lead Texas Rangers to an 11-5 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday.
Texas bid in excess of $51 million just to land exclusive negotiating rights with Darvish then handed the 25-year-old a six-year deal worth a reported $60 million.
However, the Rangers' new acquisition did not start out smoothly in front of the expectant home fans, walking two batters and unleashing a wild pitch during a rocky first inning where Seattle scored four times.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After allowing a fifth run in the second, the big right-hander settled and went on to finish with eight hits and four walks, striking out five in 110 pitches over 5 2/3 innings.
The Rangers' (3-1) offense needed little time to warm up, Nelson Cruz hitting a three-run home run in the third to tie the game. Mitch Moreland smacked a two-run shot in the fourth, where Josh Hamilton also homered.
Ian Kinsler added a three-run blast in the eighth inning to bury the Mariners (3-2).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Our goal is to do what it takes to win the game and tonight that meant score runs," said Kinsler. Texas announced they had signed Kinsler to a five-year contract extension worth $75 million beginning in 2013.
Seattle second-year pitcher Hector Noesi lasted just three innings in the loss.
Kyle Seager had three RBIs for the Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki added three hits against countryman Darvish.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Amlan Chakraborty/Peter Rutherford)