ARLINGTON - With a chance to sweep a weekend series from American League West rival Seattle and improve to two games above .500 for the first time in almost a month, the Texas Rangers handed the ball to ace Yu Darvish.
Darvish, coming off a season-best performance against Houston, proceeded to allow a season-high five earned runs and eight hits in five innings as the Rangers dropped a 7-3 decision before 31,552 fans on steamy Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Park.
Oh yes, he threw a bountiful 99 pitches in those five innings.
Darvish said he simply could not find his rhythm in a game that opened in 92-degree heat.