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Yu Darvish threw 130 pitches. Justin Verlander gave up seven runs in the third inning, his most ever in a single inning. Darvish threw 36 pitches in the third. There were four home runs and two bases-loaded walks (both by Verlander).
In short: Darvish vs. Verlander wasn't the pitcher's duel many people were hoping for. The Rangers won the game 10-4, with 11 of the 14 total runs scored in the first three innings. It was reminiscent of an NFL game between two stellar defenses that ends up 42-21.
Said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, per MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan:
"It was one of those games where everyone in the world was looking for the matchup and it didn't work out so good," Leyland said. "I don't think anyone expected 12 runs to be scored with those two guys out there. These things happen."
Still, Darvish had his moments. Like the video above of him making Miguel Cabrera whiff on a 62 MPH curve ball. Darvish improved to 7-1 on the season, pitching eight innings and striking out six. Verlander, meanwhile, fell to 4-4 after pitching only 2 2/3 innings. It raised ERA to 3.17 on the season. No more "Nasty Nine."
"I just had too many poorly executed pitches," Verlander said. "Something's not right, and it's consistency in repeating my delivery. It helps knowing that I'm someone who can turn things around quickly ... "I'm not going to go home and pout about this. I'm going to figure this out -- and fast."
Red Sox win after ninth-inning rally: Alex Cobb turned in a good start for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up only one run on three hits and leaving with a 3-1 lead. When the Red Sox got the top of the ninth, facing closer Fernando Rodney, that's when things turned upside down for the Rays.
Rodney — who was lights out last season, but as been struggling as of late — loaded the bases with three walks, but struck out two. Will Middlebrooks was at the plate with two strikes against him. That's when he lined a Rodney changeup into left-center for a three run double. That 3-1 Rays lead became a 4-3 deficit that they couldn't overcome in the bottom of the ninth.
MORE SCORES
Reds 5, Marlins 3: Cincinnati scores three in the 10th inning to sweep the Marlins. Juan Pierre, above, started things off well for Miami — with a crazy catch in the first inning, then a homer in his first at-bat.
Nationals 6, Padres 2: Stephen Strasburg gets his second win of the season (first since opening day!) in his return to his hometown. Bryce Harper homers too.
White Sox 5, Angels 4: The White Sox score three in the eighth to rally past the Angels — including a bases-loaded, go-ahead walk. Ouch.
Giants 8, Rockies 6: Matt Cain gives up six runs in the first three innings. Good thing the Giants got him eight.
Pirates 7, Brewers 1: Francisco Liriano, in his second game of the season for the Pirates, now has as many wins at Strasburg.
Mariners 3, Yankees 2: Not only did the Yanks lose the Mariners, they lost Andy Pettitte and Chris Stewart to injury.
Mets 5, Cardinals 2: The Mets snap their six-game losing streak, as Daniel Murphy goes 4-for-4, including that vanishing double.
"Hunter was like, 'Synergy, synergy, we have to believe. I hadn't heard from him in a couple of games, and sure enough, we scored five runs. He's a magician. That's unbelievable."
— Brandon Belt on Giants teammate Hunter Pence's encouragement before the team scored five runs in the fourth inning.
Bryce Harper — helmet flyin', hair standin' up, face crunched — is thrown out trying to advance to second on a fielder's choice. Remember, world, he's never going to stop playing hard.
• Stephen Strasburg, whose pitch count has always been a hot topic, pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in his MLB career on Thursday.
• Jeff Keppinger's bases loaded walk in the eighth inning to put the White Sox ahead of the Angels was his first walk of the season. In 141 plate appearances.
• The Giants have beat the Rockies in 10 straight games.
Baseball is back. Don't miss anything.
Follow @MikeOz and @bigleaguestew, on Twitter, along with the BLS Facebook page.
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