According to a statement released by the club, Texas Rangers’ starting pitcher Yu Darvish exited Wednesday’s matchup against the Houston Astros as a precaution due to “right shoulder tightness”. He walked Jose Altuve in the next at-bat, prompting a conference at the mound, but stayed in the game to force Carlos Correa into a flyout to end the inning.
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Both starters took no-decisions. But he clamped down and left the game tied 2-2 after allowing the two runs on four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Then, on Tuesday, Profar got his first ever start – at any level – at first base, and it was Fielder who was still in the lineup at DH while Moreland sat for the second straight day. It’s the footwork that’s a little bit different.
Three of the first four hitters reached, with Jose Altuve putting the Astros ahead, 3-1, on a two-run double.
Lefty reliever Jake Diekman (1-1) had a scoreless eighth after seven solid innings from Cole Hamels.
Colby Rasmus talked about a sigh of relief after the Astros finally got a win this season over the Texas Rangers – in their ninth try.
“I think that’s the right option, especially after the Tommy John surgery”, Darvish said of his pitch restrictions.
Doug Fister (6-3) got his fifth straight win over his last eight starts – all Astros victories.
Joey Votto hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to guide the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-6 win over the St Louis Cardinals and Ian Kinsler hit the game-winning single in the 10th inning to ensure the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2. “He showed signs the footwork [is] OK, and I feel confident the instincts and awareness are going to allow him to play over there”. It tagged the bearded the left-hander with as many losses as he had all last season while winning 20 games.
Darvish made five injury rehabilitation starts for Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock last month and rejoined the Rangers May 28 against Pittsburgh, and pitched against Seattle on Friday night.
Jurickson Profar – the Rangers second baseman on Monday – extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a leadoff triple that sparked a three-run first.
Ian Desmond had an RBI groundout for the Texas run in the third, after the center fielder threw out Jason Castro trying to score in the top of the inning.
“Anytime a player comes off the field there’s concern”, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.
The Rangers are expected to update his status soon.
Houston counters with right-hander Collin McHugh, who is making his first start of the season against Texas.
And during the Rangers’ 4-3 win over the Astros on Tuesday, they were at it again.
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The Rangers and Astros play each other twelve more times this season and as mentioned earlier, it has been a one-sided affair so far. His final appearance before the elbow reconstruction was against the Astros on August 9, 2014.
