:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55832763/usa_today_10170365.0.jpg)
Technically Yu Darvish should have one, possibly two starts before the July 31st trading deadline. However, since the Rangers might sell and Yu Darvish is Yu Darvish, he might not be a Ranger by his next turn in the rotation.
If this was it for Yu Darvish with Texas, he went out in style. Darvish tossed eight innings and allowed three runs (all on solo, juiced home runs) on five hits with 12 strikeouts to just 1 walk.
In fact, it was nearly the platonic ideal Yu Darvish start as Elvis Andrus hit a first inning home run and then Texas didn’t score again until Darvish left the game.
Down 3-1 in the 9th, Shin-Soo Choo followed a Joey Gallo double with a game-tying two-run home run.
By the miracle of grace, Darvish was taken off the hook for a loss. Unfortunately, after two runners reached with two outs (including Adrian Beltre collecting hit No. 2,986), Rougned Odor couldn’t complete the miracle and get Darvish the W.
I mean, the Rangers tying a low-scoring Darvish start was perhaps too much to ask for to begin with, asking for him to get a win would be crazy talk.
So, if this is it, if this is the last time we’ve seen Yu Darvish in a Texas Rangers uniform, I say thank you for being one of the best to ever toe the rubber with the T on your cap, you beautiful Japanese unicorn.
Oh yeah, and Elvis bookended this one with an RBI single in the 10th to give the Rangers an eventual 4-3 win in 10 to perhaps start the Rangers’ comeback run to the Wild Card and eventually the World Series with Yu Darvish on the mound where he will sign a five year extension just before winning the clincher.
Player of the Game: When all is said and done we’ll look back on Yu Darvish’s time in Texas and remember how fucking rad he was. The people who didn’t think he was all that rad will end up being the ones that miss him the worst of all when they’re once again forced to watch the kind of pitching that usually stumbles out to the mound in Arlington.
Up Next: More Rangers. More vs Rays. Andrew Cashner will face Chris Archer. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm CT.